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MEMORIALS 



OF 



METHODISM IN YmaiNIA. 



FROM ITS INTRODUCTIOISr INTO THE STATE, 
IN THE YEAR 1772, TO THE YEAR 1829. 



BY THE/ 

Rev. WILLIAM W. BENNETT, D.J),, 

EDITOR OF THE RICHMOND CHRISTIAN ADYOCATE, 



PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOK. 

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by 
W.W.BENNETT, 

m the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C, 



TO THE MEMBERS 



OF THE 



VlEfilllA AMAl CONFERENCE M. E, CHURCH, SOUTH. 



|l|l^ |{.l£crf 



OP THE LABORS OF 



THE FATHERS 



WHO PLANTED METHODISM IN VIRGINIA, 



IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THEIE FELLOW-LABOREB, 



THE AUTHOR 




PREFACE. 



Soon after tlie writer of this volume entered the min- 
istry, now above twenty-five years, he conceived the 
purpose of writing a history of Methodism in Virginia. 
The field was large, and its exploration vastly more 
difficult than youthful ardor had imagined. But it was 
extremely inviting, and promised a rich reward to patient 
research. The main difficulty lay in the collection of 
suitable materials. These reposed in the memoirs of the 
older ministers and members, or were scattered through 
the Journals of Asbury and the detached writings of his 
contemporaries and successors. 

To the applications made to those who were familiar with 
the early history of our Church in Virginia, he received 
the most favorable responses, and to these contributions 
the author is indebted for many of the most interesting 
incidents in this volume. Most fortunately, the family 
of Rev. Stith Mead placed in his hands the manuscript 
Journal of that eminently useful man, extending through 
a period of nearly forty years. This was found to con- 
tain a record of facts in connection with early Methodism 
of the greatest value, besides copies of documents of 
an official character that had escaped the notice of every 
other writer. This Journal was destroyed, with the 
library of the author, in the great fire at Richmond in 
April, 1865. 

(8) 



4 PREFACE. 

The Journals of the Virginia Conference, which were 
kindly placed in his hands for examination by the accom- 
plished Secretaries, were of much service, and enabled 
him to trace the progress of Conference business from 
the earliest and simplest forms, which proved sufficient 
for our fathers, to the more elaborate and complex 
methods of our times. 

The constant aim of the author has been to give a 
faithful record of the movement of Methodism in the State 
from its earliest period, to the date at which the volume 
closes. The critical reader will find many departures from 
'exact rules, but he must bear in mind that Methodism, 
like every other system, has passed through formative 
stages, each of which has been marked by measures 
which to us appear anomalous, but were, in fact, the best 
and wisest that could have been adopted under existing 
circumstances. 

The work has been carried forward in the midst of the 
daily engagements of the regular pastorate, and though 
nearly completed before the outbreak of the late civil 
war, it has since been revised with care. It is now sent 
forth with the earnest prayer that it may contribute to 
the spiritual well-being of those who sit j)eacefully under 
their own " vines and fig trees," in the fields won by the 
heroic deeds of the early Methodist preachers. 

W. W. B. 

Ashland, Ya., 18V0. 



CONTENTS. 



I. 

Settlement at Jamestown. Rev. Robert Hunt, chaplain of the Colony. First 
place of -worship. Sufferings of the colonists. Arrival of Lord De La War. 
Rev. Mr. Bucke— re-opening of the Church— description of the service. Rev. 
Messrs. Whittaker, Glover and Wickham. Settlements in the Colony. 
Founding of a college for the education of the Indians. Massacre of the 
colonists in 1622. Assembly of 1624— laws in reference to religious matters. 
Strict enforcement of the Act of tlQiformity. Appearance of Puritan 
preachers in the Colony— their expulsion by act of Assembly. Laws against 
the Quakers. Low state of religion— action of the vestries. Charter of Wil- 
liam and Mary College. Introduction of Presbyterianism. Francis Make- 
mie. The Great Awakening. Whitefield in Virginia. Samuel Morris- 
effect of his "readings." William Robinson, John Blair, John Roan, Wil- 
liam Tennent. Whitefield again in Virginia. Samuel Davies— his labors. 
Baptists in Virginia. Persecutions against them. Rapid increase of Dis- 
senters. Whitefield's preaching. Growing dislike to the Established 
Church. Bill for Religious Freedom. Great struggle over it in the Assem- 
bly. Its final passage 9 

II. 

Robert Williams. Emigration to America. Labors in New York, and other 
places. First appearance in Virginia in 1772. His preaching at Norfolk and 
Portsmouth. Visits Petersburg in 1773. Gressett Davis— his letter to Mr. 
Wesley. First preaching place in Petersburg. Archibald McRoberts. 
Devereux Jarratt. State of Religion. Startling sermons of Jarratt. Hia 
faithful labors. First American Methodist Conterence. First regular Cir- 
cuit in Virginia. Revival under Williams and Jarratt. Methodist Church 
built in Petersburg. Marriage and settlement of Williams, His death. 
Estimate of his Character 47 

III. 

The new Circuit in Virginia— Its preachers— its extent. Great revival. Fran- 
cis Asbury in Virginia— Poor prospects in his field. George Shadford— Won- 
derful revival under his preaching in Virginia. Jarratt heartily joins in the 
work— his estimate of it. Thomas Rankin— His preaching in Virginia. 
Extent of the revival. Increase in the membership. Sad effect of the war. 
Prejudices against English preachers. Conference at Leesbur^. — First ever 
held in Virginia. Decrease in the membership. Edward Dromgoole. 
Isham Tatum. New circuits. Agitation on the question of Ordinances. 
72 

lY. 

Conference at Broken-back Church. " Contest about the Ordinances," Rea- 
sons which impelled the JMethodists to seek the Ordinances at the 
hands of their own preachers. Decision of the Conference on the question. 
Efforts of Asbury to arrest the movement. Two Conferences in 1780. Strong 
opposition of the Conference at Baltimore to the measures of the Conference 
in Virginia. Asbury, Watters, and Garrettson sent to the Manakintown 
Conference. They offer conditions of Union. Rejected by the Virginia 
preachers. Sad scenes. An unexpected compromise. Asbury makes a tour 
in Virginia and North Carolina— His unceasing labors. Plan for a Kings- 
wood school. John Dickens. Happy result of Asbury's visit in quieting 
the people on the subject of the Ordinances 104 



Vlll CONTENTS. 



Opening of the Slavery Question. Influence of Mr. Wesley's opinions. Ac- 
tion of the Conference at Baltimore. The apple of discord thi-own down. 
Conference of 1781. Important measures of Church economy adopted. The 
churches in Virginia. Desolations of War. Asbury again in the State— His 
description of Weyer's Cave— His incessant labors. Conference at Ellis' 
Meeting House. Final settlement of the question of Ordinances. Method 
of equalizing quarterage receipts. Asbury chosen to preside over the Con- 
ferences—His travels in the circuits. Conference of 1782 at Ellis'— Adjounied 
to meet at Baltimore. Action on slavery. Decided measures against intem- 
perance. Close of the War. Spread of Methodism. Conference of 1784. 
Arrival of Dr. Coke, Call for a General Conference 129 

VI. 

American Methodist preachers. John Easter— His parentage— His entrance 
upon the regular Avork. Extraordinary success. Thrilling scenes under 
his preaching. Failure of health. His death. Philip Bruce— His early life. 
Incidents during the Revolutionary war. Personal appearance and charac- 
ter as a preacher. Interesting incident. Jesse Lee. His conversion. Call 
to preach. In the Army. Refuses to bear arms. Labors among the sol- 
diers. Attends a Conference. Impressions. Becomes an Itinerant. La- 
borers in the South. Sent to New England. Trials and triumphs. Anec- 
dotes. Personal appearance. View of his character 168 

VII. 

The Christmas Conference— Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church- 
Hearty unity among the societies— Action against slavery— Influence of Dr. 
Coke— Plan for a college— Opening of the Institution— Its destruction by 
fire— Re-establishment of the college at Baltimore— Again destroyed by fire — 
Visit of Dr. Coke to Virginia— His zeal against slavery— Excitement against 
him — ^Discussion at Conference — Petition to the Legislature— Asbury and 
Coke visit General Washington — The interview — Conference of 1785 — 
Preachers sent to Virginia — Joseph Everett — Sketch of his Jife — Origin of 
the Presiding Elders' office— Extensive revivals- Asbury's travels in Vir- 
ginia — Conference of 1786 — Call for missionaries for Georgia — Financial ope- 
rations of the Church— Conference for 178.7— Richard O wings — Revival — 
Conferences of 1788— Valentine Cook — William McKendree — First Confer- 
ence in the Holston country— Success in that year — Conversion of General 
Kussell 210 

VIII. 

Series of Conferences— Journey of Asbury and Coke— Prosperous state 
of the Churches — Revivals— Rev. S. G. Roszell— Extension of the work 
in Virginia— Size of a District— Quarterly Meetings — Establishment of "The 
Council"— Its powers — ^The first Meeting— Dissatisfaction — Abandonment 
of the plan — Conferences of 1790— John Tunnell— His labors and death — 
Enoch George — Daniel Hall— Asbury in Virginia — Rev. Thomas Scott's view 
of his character— Efi'orts to establish Sunday Schools— Conferences of 
1791-'2— Stith Mead— Sketch of his life— Conference in Greenbrier— Method 
of conducting business — Remarkable Conversion— Perilous journey of As- 
bury through the mountains 271 

IX. 

First schism in America Methodism— James O'Kelly— His success as a preach- 
er—His influence in Virginia— Opposition to '• The Council" — Assails As- 
bury. General Conference of 1792— O'Kelly proposes an amendment to the 
rules— A heated discussion— The amendment fails— O'Kelly retires from the 
body— Returns to Virginia and raises a party— Formally withdraws from the 
Church— " Republican Methodista"— Painful results of the schism— O'Kelly 



CONTENTS. IX 

changes the name of his Church— New parties— Causes of failure— Pierce 
attacks on Asbury— Reaction— Meeting of Asbury and O'KeJly— Death of 
O'Kelly. Conferences of 1793— Methodism in Western Virginiar— Edward 
and Samuel Mitchell. Conferences of 1794 — Pastoral Address— Discontent 
in the Churches, Conference of 1795 — Heavy decrease in Members. Con- 
ference of 1796— Happy influence of the Session— Loss of Preachers— Reu- 
ben Ellis— Richard Joy— Stephen Davis— Asbury in the wilderness— Thrill- 
ing Narrative 313 

X. 

Districting the Conferences— Asbury on his Southern tour— Failure of health 
—He winters in Virginia— Employment of his time— Indoor life— Sermoni- 
zing— Great Revival of 1797. Conferences of 1798-9— John Dickens— Meth- 
odism in Richmond. Conference of 1800— Statistics— Third General Con- 
ference— Measures adopted— Purpose of Asbury to resign his office — He is 
dissuaded ftom it— Election of whatcoat to the Episcopacy— Progress of 
Methodism in Virginia— Rich fruits of Ministerial toil 353 

XL 

Revival of 1801— Conference at Dromgoole's Chapel— John Tolleson— Thomas 
Logan Douglass— Jesse Lee labors in Vir;^inia. Conference of 1802— Revi- 
val scenes— Progress of the work in the Valley— General Daniel Morgan — 
A Methodist dinner party. Conference of 1803— John C. Ballev/— Elizabeth 
Dandridge Ballew— First Camp Meetings in Virginia— Account of their ori- 
gin— "The Jerks' and other remarkable exercises— Popularity of Camp- 
Meetings— Description of the ground and exercises , 387 

XII. 

Asbury's plan for aiding worn-out Preachers— His Travels in Virginia. Con- 
ference of 1804 — William Ormond— Nathan Jarratt— Action on the Slavery 
Question— Petition of the Virginia Conference on the subject. Fourth Gen- 
eral Conference — Measures adopted— Revivals in Virginia— Methodism in 
Lynchburg— Appearance of Lorenzo Dow in the State — Sketch of his life — 
Revival in Winchester and adjacent circuits— Rev. Mr. Crum— " I must be 
Converted in Dutch" 439 

XIII. 

The two Veterans— Conference of 1805, at Edmund Taylor's— Pastoral Address 
— Asbury and Whatcoat in Virginia— Joseph Carson— Recollections of 
Methodism in Winchester— Labors of Mr. Carson— A Quarterly Meeting — 
Camp Meeting— Persecution — Awful judgment on a scoffer— Louis R. Fech- 
tig. Conference of 1806— Benjamin Devany— Anecdotes— Work of Grace 
among the Churches— Impressive scenes. Conference of 1807— Proposal of 
the IVew York Conference for calling a General Conference— Rejected by the 
Conference- Richard Whatcoat— His Labors and death— Edward Cannon- 
John Early— Labors of the early preachers. Conference of 1808 — Trials of an 
Itinerant. General Conference of 1^8 475 

XIV. 

Conference of 1809— Bad effects of the Anti-slavery Doctrines— Address of the 
prisoners in the Penitentiary — Scenes at the Harrisonburg Conference — A 
Snake bite— First Camp Meeting in the Northern Neck— Conference of 1811 
AsburVs labors— His visit to Richmond— A Prayer Meeting — Plan of Asbury 
for a History of Methodism in America— Gracious Revivals— Great Camp 
Meeting near Winchester— Conference of 1812— Asbury on the road— Anec- 
dote of Wesley— Camp Meeting near Richmond— Stratagem of Jesse Lee — 
First delegated General Conference — New measures proposed. Conference 
of 1813— Lewis Skidmore. Conference of 1814 — Feebleness of Asbury— His 
devotion to first work— Death of Dr. Thomas Coke. Conference of 1815 — 
Decrease in numbers— Conference of 1816— Death of Asbury— His character 
and labors— Death of Jesse Lee 546 



X CONTENTS. 

XV. 

General Conference of 1816— The Presiding Elder and other Questions— Elec- 
tion of Bishops— Protest against Slavery. Conference of 1817— Report of 
Committee on Slavery— Movement on the subject of Education — Progress of 
the vpork— Revival scenes. Conference of 1818— Peter Doub— Hezekiah G. 
Leigh — George W. Chariton— New church in Petersburg— Fletcher Harris — 
Increase of the church in the Valley— Thomas Kennerly— Power of Prayer- 
Conference of 1819— Action on Slavery — Walker Timberlake— Work in Bo- 
tetourt and adjacent circuits— Samuel Kennerly— Camp Meeting scenes. Con- 
ference of 1820 — Moses Brock — Philip Courtney. General Conference of 
1820. Virginia Conference of 1821— Thomas Crowder— Revivals. Confer- 
ence of 1822 — Address of Bishop McKendree on the Presiding Elder Ques- 
tion — Response of the Conference — General outpouring of the Spirit — 
Great Revival in Petersburg — Conference of 1823— -William Hammit— Pey- 
ton Anderson 636 

XVI. 

Conference of 1824. Revi-mls, General Conference of 1824. Lay Delegation 
and other measures. Virginia Conference of 1825. Incipient movements 
for a College. Colonization and Missionary Societies. Great work of 
Grace in Efanover circuit, Greensville and other places. Christopher S. 
Mooring. Conference of 1826. Revival on James River District. Death of 
Philip Bruce. Conference of 1827. Progress of the work in Norfolk, Suf- 
folk and other places. Death of Thomas Howard. Conference of 1848. 
Martin P. Parks. Abram Pena. "Radical Controversy." Death of Bishop 
George 720 



70^ 



MEMORIALS 

OF 

METHODISM IN YBGINIA, 



CHAPTER I. 

Settlement at Jamestowfi. Rev. Robert Hunt, chaplain of the 
Colony. First place of worship. Sufferings of the colonists. 
Arrival of Lord De La TVar. Rev. Mr. Bucke — re-opening of 
the Church — description of the service. Rev. Messrs. Whit- 
taker, Glover and Wickham. Settlements in the Colony. 
Founding of a college for the education of the Indians. Mas- 
sacre of the colonists in 1622. Assembly of 1624: — laws in ref- 
erence to religious matters. Strict enforcement of the Act of 
Uniformity. Appearance of Puritan preachers in the Colony — 
their expulsion by act of Assembly. Laws against the Quakers. 
Low state of religion — action of the vestries. Charter of Wil- 
liam and Mary College. Introduction of Presbyterianism. Fran- 
cis Makemie. The Great Av/akening. Whitefield in Virginia. 
Samuel Morris — effect of his '• readings." William Robinson, 
John Blair, John Roan, William Tennent. AYhitefield again in 
Virginia. Samuel Davies— his labors. Baptists in Virginia. 
Persecutions against them. Rapid increase of Dissenters. 
Whitefield's preaching. Growing dislike to the Established 
Church. Bill for Religious Freedom. Great struggle over it 
in the Assembly. Its final passage. 







E" the IStb. day of May, 1607, the first perma- 
nent settlement on the soil of Virginia, was made 
at Jamestown. The colonists brought with them the 
forms and ceremonies of the Church of England. 
They regarded their enterprise as a work, which, 



10 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM ^ 

under the providence of God, might tend *Uo the 
glory of his Divine Majesty and the propagating of 
the Christian religion." Their chaplain was the Rev. 
Robert Hunt, an exemplary and pious man, whom 
they loved and venerated. Wingfield, the first pres- 
ident of the Colony, speaks of him as **a man not 
any waie to be touched with the humour of a papist 
spirit, nor blemished with the least suspicion of a fac- 
tous schismatic." He had been instrumental in sup- 
pressing a mutiny while the little fleet lay for six weeks 
on the English coast, baffled by»adverse winds, and 
he was equally successful in settling the disputes that 
arose among the chief men, in the infancy of the 
colony. 

The first place of worship at Jamestown was of 
the rudest sort, and not unhke the arrangements of 
a camp-meeting. Captain John Smith thus describes 
it : ** We did hang an awning (which is an old sail) 
to three or four trees, to shadow us from the sun ; our 
walls were rails of wood, our seats unhewed trees, 
till we cut planks ; our pulpit a bar of wood nailed 
to two neighbouring trees ; in foul weather we shifted 
into an old rotten tent." 

Such was their church, till, through the exertions 
of Hunt, they '^ built a homely thing like a barn, set 
upon crotchetts, covered with rafts, sedge and earth, so 
was also the walls." 

*' The best of our houses," says Smith, **were of 
the like curiosity, but the most part far much worse 
workmanship, that could neither well defend wind 



IN VIRGINIA. 11 

They had morning and evening service daily, two 
sermons on the Sabbath, **and every three months, 
the holy communion." Such was the practice while 
Hunt lived ; after his death they still had daily prayers, 
and a homily read by some competent person, on the 
Sabbath. It is uncertain when Mr. Hunt died. Dr. 
Hawkes supposes that he lived long enough to perform 
the first marriage ceremony in Virginia, in 1608 ; he 
died probably the same year. His zeal, devotion, and 
courage are fully endorsed by an early writer. During 
a fire, that destroyed nearly the whole of Jamestown, 
** the minister. Hunt, lost all his library, and all that 
he had, but the clothes on his back ; yet none ever 
heard him repine at his loss. Upon any alarm, he 
was as ready for defence as any, and till he -could not 
speak, he never ceased to his utmost to animate us 
constantly to persist ; whose soul, questionless, is with 
God." 

Captain Smith's eulogy is not less complete. He 
speaks of him as, ** an honest, religious and coura- 
geous divine, during whose life our factions were oft 
qualified, our wants and greatest extremities so com- 
forted that they seemed easy in comparison of what we 
endured after his memorable death." 

The colony was without a minister until 1610, when 
the Rev. Mr. Bucke came over with the new Governor, 
Lord De la War. When this expedition reached 
Jamestown, the colony was in a wretched condition ; 
many had been slain by the Indians, and the few that 
remained were at the point of starvation. The church 
bell was rung, '' and such as were able to crawl out 



12 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

of their miserable dwellings, repaired thither to join 
in the zealous and sorrowful prayer of their faithful 
minister, who pleaded in that solemn hour for his 
afflicted brethren and himself before the Lord their 
God." 

The stock of provisions being exhausted, the colony 
resolved to seek a refuge in I^ewfoundland. As they 
were sailing down the river '* with sorrowful hearts," 
they met the fleet of Lord De la War coming up * ' with 
provision and comforts of all kinds." All returned 
joyfully to Jamestown. On landing, the Governor 
* ' fell down on his knees, and in the presence of all 
the people made a long and silent prayer." 

When he arose, the whole company moved in pro- 
cession to the church, and heard a sermon from the 
new minister. At the close of the discourse, Lord De 
la War read his credentials, and made an encourag- 
ing address to the people. 

Never was an arrival more opportune. The colo- 
nists were reduced to the last extremity. The record 
of their sufferings almost exceeds belief. " So great 
was our famine," says one of the historians, *' that 
a savage we slew and buried, the poorer sort took 
him up again and eat him, and so did divers one another, 
boiled and stewed with roots and herbs. And one of 
the rest did kill his wife, powdered her, and had eaten 
part of her before it was known, for which he was 
executed, as he well deserved." 

Lord De la War at once gave orders for the repair- 
ing of the church. It was sixty feet long, by twenty- 
four wide, its chancel was of cedar, the communion 



IN VIRGINIA. 13 

table black walnut ; all the pews were of cedar, <'with 
fair, broad windows, to shut and open, of the same 
wood." The pulpit was of the same material, ^*with 
a font hewn below like a canoe. " The church was very 
light within ; it had two bells at the west end. By 
order of the *' Lord-Governor it was kept passing 
sweet, and trimmed up with divers flowers." They 
had two sermons on Sunday, and one on Thursday ; 
there being two preachers, who held service by turns. 
'* Every morning at the ringing of the bell about ten 
o'clock, each man addresseth himself to prayers, and 
so at four o'clock, before supper." 

On Sunday the Governor w^ent to church in great 
state. He was "accompanied by all the counsellors, 
captains, and other officers, and all the gentlemen, 
with a guard of Halberdiers, in his lordship's livery, 
fair red cloakes, to the number of fifty, on each side 
and behind him." 

His lordship sat in the choir, * *in a great velvet chair;" 
a cloth was spread before him, and on this was placed 
a velvet cushion, on which he kneeled. On either 
side were the officers of his household, each in his 
place. At the close of the service he marched back 
in the same manner. 

The next minister that came over was Alexander 
Whitaker. He was no obscure adventurer. His 
father, the Eev. William Whitaker, was Master of 
Saint John's College, Cambridge, and Kegius Profes- 
sor of Divinity. He was one of the ablest theologi- 
cal writers of his day. His son was a graduate of 



14 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Cambridge, and held a living in the Korth of Eng- 
land, where he was greatly esteemed, 

**He, without any persuasion but God and his own 
heart, did voluntarily leave his loarm nest, and to the 
wonder of his kindred and amazement of them that 
knew him, undertook this hard but heroical resolu- 
tion to go to Virginia, and help to bear the name of 
God to the Gentiles." 

In the same year, Rev. Mr. Glover came over. 
He was also a graduate of Cambridge, and had held a 
good position as a preacher in England. Eeaching 
the country in the sickly season, he soon died. 

"Whitaker was the minister at ^*Kew Bermuda,^' 
now Bermuda Hundred ; he also preached at Hen- 
rico City, six miles above, on the opposite side of the 
river. 

It is supposed that he officiated at the marriage of 
John Eolfe and Pocahontas. 

In an interesting historical paper, found in the Brit- 
ish Museum, entitled, ** John Rolf's Relation of the 
State of Virginia, 17th century," and supposed to 
have been written in 1616, we have an account of the 
settlements in the Colony at that date. 

At Henrico City, the farthest inland settlement, 
there were thirty-eight men and boys, twenty-two of 
these were farmers, the rest officers and others ; **all 
whom maintayne themselves with food and apparell." 

"William Wickham was the minister, probably Mr. 
Whitaker's curate. He was a man *' who in his life 
and doctrine, gave good examples and godly instructions 



IN VIRGINIA. 15 

to the people." At Bermtida Fether Hundred there 
were one hundred and nineteen settlers. Whitaker, 
**agood divine," had the ministerial charge here. 
At West and Shirley Hundred, on the north side of 
the river, three or four miles helow Bermuda, there 
were twenty-five colonists employed in the cultivation 
of tobacco. At Jamestown there were fifty, of whom 
thirty-one were farmers ; ^^ all theis maintayne them- 
selves with food and rayment." Eichard Burd was 
the minister, '* a verie good preacher." 

At Kequoughtan, (Hampton) not far from the 
mouth of the river, there were twenty settlers, eleven 
were farmers. William Mays was their minister. 

There was a fishing station called Dale's Gift, on 
the ocean, near Cape Charles ; seventeen men were 
there stationed, whose *' labor was to make salt and 
catch fish." The population at this period amounted 
to three hundred and fifty-one. 

A college for the education of the Indians was 
founded at Henrico City, and some native children were 
placed under instruction. The company in England 
granted 15,000 acres of land lying between Henrico 
and Eichmond, for the support of the church and 
the college. The East India school, preparatory to 
the college, was also established in Charles City, and 
both were in a fair way to be permanently endowed 
by liberal contributions in England ; but a direful 
calamity ruined all these plans. On Friday the 22nd 
of March, 1622, the Indians massacred one-twelfth 
of all the inhabitants of the colony. At noon the 
savages, ** rising suddenly and everywhere at the same 



16 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

time, butchered the colonists with their own imple- 
ments, sparing neither age, nor sex, nor condition." 
In a few hours three hundred men, w^omen and chil- 
dren had fallen. ** The infuriated savages wreaked 
their vengeance even on the dead, dragging and 
mangling the lifeless bodies, smearing their hands in 
blood and bearing off the torn and yet palpitaing limbs 
as trophies of a brutal triumph. " This horrible slaugh- 
ter struck such a panic into the hearts of the remain- 
ing settlers, that they seriously contemplated seeking 
a refuge on the Eastern shore, thus putting the Bay 
between themselves and the bloodthirsty savages. 

But after more mature deliberation this plan was 
abandoned, and the people were withdrawn from the 
defenceless plantations, and concentrated in a few 
well fortified places. 

In the month of March 1624, an Assembly was 
held whose records have been preserved. The action 
of previous Assemblies in reference to religious mat- 
ters is not recorded, but from subsequent allusions 
it appears that the ministers were allowed *^ten pounds 
of tobacco and a bushel of corn per poll, provided the 
whole allowance did not exceed fifteen hundred pounds 
of tobacco, and sixteen barrels of corn." 

The acts of 1624 were very stringent in regard to 
church duties. Provision was to be made in every 
plantation for a house or a room sequestered for the 
worship of God, and not to be used for any temporal 
purpose, *'and a place empaled in for the buryal of 
the dead." 

Whoever absented himself from * ^ divine service 



IN VIRGINIA. 17 

any Sunday without an allowable excuse," was fined 
one pound of tobacco; if he absented himself a month, 
he was fined fifty pounds. 

Conformity *Uo the canons in England" was en- 
joined, and all persons commanded to *^ yield readie 
obedience to them under paine of censure." 

A minister absent from his charge * *above two months 
in all the yeare," forfeited '^ halfehis means ;" if ab- 
sent above four months, he forfeited * 'his whole means 
and cure." 

No man was allowed to sell any of his tobacco until 
the minister was satisfied, under the penalty of for- 
feiting '' double his part of the minister's means;" 
one man was appointed in every plantation to collect 
the parson's portion, out of *^ the first and best to- 
bacco." 

In 1632 the laws were revised. The act of unifor- 
mity was reenacted; diflering in words, but remain- 
ing the same in spirit. The non-attendance penalty 
was now made ** one shillinge for every tyme of any 
persons' absence from church, having no lawfull or 
reasonable excuse to bee absent." 

The ministers were required to preach at least one 
sermon every Sunday — *' having no lawful impedi- 
ment." It was also made their duty to catechise the 
congregation every Sabbath '* halfe an houre or more 
before evening prayer." It was ordered that '*all 
preachinge, administeringe of the communion, bap- 
tizinge of children, and marriages, shall be done in 
the church except in cases of necessitie." 

Ministerial character must have been at a heavy 



18 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

discouut in the Colony at that period, as the following 
Act will attest: 

^'Ministers shall not give themselves to excess in 
drinking or ryott, spending their tyme idelie by day 
or by night, playinge at dice, cards and other unlaw- 
ful game, but at all times convenient they shall heare 
or reade somewhat of the Holy Scripture, or shall oc- 
cupie themselves with some other honest studies, or 
exercise, always doiuge the things which shall apper- 
tayne to honestie, and endeavour to profit the Church 
of God, havinge alwayes in mynd that they ought to 
excell all others in puritie of life, and should be 
examples to the people, to live well and Christianlie." 
"We may fain hope that all the clergy were not in- 
cluded in this dark picture ; but that the majority 
were ^* blind leaders of the blind" can hardly be 
doabted by any one acquainted with our colonial history. 
The Assembly feeling the need of spiritual guides, 
** began to provide and send home for gospel minis- 
ters, and largely contributed for their maintenance ; 
but Virginia savouring not handsomely in England, 
very few of good conversation would adventare thither 
(as thinking it a place wherein surely the fear of God 
was not) yet many came such as wore black coats and 
could babble in a pulpit, roar in a tavern, exact from 
their parishioners, and rather by their dissoluteness 
destroy than feed their flocks." These statements 
should, perhaps, be taken with some allowance. The 
planters were generally remiss in the erection of church- 
es and in supporting the clergy ; many of them were 
vicious and profligate, caring for none of these things 



IN VIRGINIA. 19 

and dishonoring religion in the sight of the heathen 
among whom they lived. 

In 1642 the Act of uniformity was made more 
stringent. It was enacted, in order to preserve *' the 
puritie of doctrine and the unitie of the church, that 
all ministers whatsoever, which shall reside in the 
colony are to he conformable to the orders and con- 
stitution of the Church of England, and the laws 
therein established, and not otherwise to be admitted 
to teach or preach publicly or privately." The Gov- 
ernor and counsel were directed to enforce the law 
rigidly against * ^all non-conformists, compelling them 
to depart the colony with all convenience." 

It is supposed that this severe measure was directed 
against the Puritans, who about this time began to 
make some stir in Virginia. 

**In the year 1641," says. Cotton Mather, <^one 
Mr. Bennet, a gentleman from Virginia, arrived at 
Boston, with letters from well-disposed persons there, 
unto the ministers of N"ew England, bewailing their 
sad condition, for the want of the glorious gospel, 
and entreating that they might hence be supplied with 
ministers of that gospel." This call was responded 
to by the N"ew England churches, and three missiona- 
ries were sent *'unto a people that sat in the region and 
shadow of death." On reaching the province they 
found *' little encouragement from the rulers of the 
place, but they had a kind entertainment with the 
people ; and in the several parts of the country where 
they were bestowed, there were many persons brought 
home to God." 



20 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

**But," says good Cotton Mather' ^* as Austin told 
mankind, the devil was never turned Christian yet ; 
the powers of darkness could not count it for their 
interest that the light of the gospel powerfully preached 
should reach these dark places of the earth." By 
the Act of uniformity the Puritan preachers **were 
driven away from the Virginia coast." They had 
gather«d several congregations during their brief so- 
journ, and, though silenced by the Assembly, they 
taught all who resorted to them in private houses. In 
1648, the Puritans were numerous in the Colony. The 
most flourishing congregation, numbering one hundred 
and eighteen, was in Kansemond county, under the care 
of Rev. Mr. Harrison. He was soon driven from the 
Colony, and afterward became greatly useful in Eng- 
land and Ireland. It is said that one of his banished 
elders, a Mr. Durand, retired to [tTorth Carolina, and 
settled in that part of the State, now called Durand's, 
or Durant's Neck. Nothing more was heard of Pu- 
ritan preachers in Virginia, until the Protectorate of 
Cromwell. 

In 1656, it was declared by the Assembly, that 
* ^ many congregations in this Colony are destitute of 
ministers whereby religion and devotion cannot but 
suffer much impairment and delay." They invited 
preachers to come over and offered a bonus of twenty 
pounds sterling, or two thousand pounds of tobacco, 
to any ** person or persons" that should transport a 
*' sufficient minister" into the colony. These efforts 
to secure good ministers were partially successful ; 
some zealous and useful men came over to labor in 



IN VIRGINIA. 21 

the destitute field. This same year it was enacted that 
all **eountysnot yet laid off into parishes, shall be 
divided into parishes ;" all **tithable persons" were 
assessed fifteen pounds of tobacco yearly ; this was to 
go towards building a parish church and purchasing a 
glebe and stock, for the next minister that should be 
settled there. 

In 1662, uniformity in worship was a promi- 
nent part of legislation. The vestiymen when in- 
ducted into office, took the oath of allegiance to the King 
and formally subscribed to the doctrines and disci- 
pline of the Church of England. 'No minister was 
allowed to officiate without proof that he had been 
ordained by an English bishop, and any one violating 
this rule, was to be expelled the Colony. All absen- 
tees from church service on Sundays, and the four 
holidays, were fined fifty pounds of tobacco. Persona 
who refused to have their children baptized were 
fined two thousand pounds of tobacco ; * * halfe to the 
informer, halfe to the publique." 

In 1671, Governor Berkley in answering the ques- 
tion from the Mother Country, ** What course is taken 
about instructing the people within your government 
in the Christian religion?" says, **We have forty- 
eight parishes, and our ministers are well paid, and 
by my consent should be better if they ivould pray of- 
iener and preach less. But of all other commodities, 
so of this, the worst are sent to us, and we had few that 
we could boast of since the persecution in Cromwell's 
tyranny drove divers worthy men hither." This is a 
sad picture of the condition of the Virginia clergy. 
2 



22 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM ^ 

It could hardly be expected that proper discipline 
should be maintained in a religious establishraent, the 
executive officers of which resided on the opposite side 
of the Atlantic Ocean. Many cases of clerical delin- 
quency required immediate attention, and the Church 
suffered all the consequences of their neglect. 

In the strong opposition to non-conformists by the 
zealous churchmen of Virginia, the Quakers came in 
for their full share of proscription and persecution. 
They were described by legislative authority as an 
^^unreasonable and turbulent sort of people, who, 
contrary to the laws, daily gathered assemblies and 
congregations of people, teaching and pubHshing 
lies, miracles, false visions, prophecies, and doctrines 
tending to destroy religion, laws, communities, and 
all the bonds of civil society." Captains of vessels 
were forbidden to bring a Quaker into the colony 
under a penalty of one hundred pounds sterhng. All 
Quakers were arrested and imprisoned without bail 
till they abjured the country, or gave security to de- 
part with all speed from the Colony and return no 
more. If a Quaker came back he was punished and 
sent away ; if he returned again he was dealt with as a 
felon. All persons were forbidden on their peril to 
publish or distribute their writings ; and whoever 
entertained them or allowed their assemblies in his 
house, w^as fined one hundred pounds sterling. For 
a month's absence from the church service, they were . 
fined twenty pounds sterling, and when taken by the 
officers in ** unlawful assemblies and conventicles," 
they were fined two hundred pounds of tobacco ; and 



IN VIRGINIA. 23 

in case any were too poor to pay the fine, the more 
able were compelled to pay for them in addition to 
their own penalty. 

But these laws wxre found insufficient to suppress 
the hated sect. In 1663, they were subjected to still 
heavier penalties. If five or more, from the age 
of sixteen upwards, assembled for religious purposes, 
they were fined for the first ofi:ence two hundred pounds 
of tobacco; for the second, five hundred pounds ; for 
the third, they were banished. The penalty for bring- 
ing a Quaker into the Colony was increased, and all 
persons forbidden to entertain them, **to teach or 
preach," under a penalty of fi.ve thousand pounds of 
tobacco. 

These severe laws were enforced with a strong hand. 
John Porter, a member of the house of Burgesses, 
from Norfolk county, was charged with being *^ loving 
to the Quakers," and ** against the baptizing of chil- 
dren ;" he admitted the fact, refused to take the oaths 
of allegiance and supremacy, which were tendered as 
tests, and was expelled from the House. The arm of 
the law was stretched out against others besides the 
Puritans and the Quakers. One Henry Coleman 
was excommunicated forty days, ^* for using scornful 
speeches, and putting on his hat in church, when, ac- 
cording to an order of the court, he was to acknowl- 
edge and ask forgiveness for an offence." In 1630, 
one Thomas Tindallwas **pillory'dtwo hours forgiving 
imy Lord Baltimore the lie, and threatening to knock 
him down." Another person lost his office and was 



24 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

fined for speaking against the laws of the Assembly 
and those who made them. 

Keligion was not improved by these severities. The 
account given by the Kev. Morgan Godwyn in 1675 
of the condition of the parishes is truly deplorable. 
The ministers were ** most miserably handled by their 
plebeian juntos, the vestries." The ** hiring" of 
parsons, as it was called, was left wholly to them. 
In many instances they resolved either to have no 
ministers at all, or to reduce them to their own terms. 
They used them as they pleased, paid them what they 
pleased, and discarded them when they pleased. 

** Two-thirds of the preachers were made up of 
leaden lay priests of the vestry's ordination ; and were 
both the shame and grief of the rightly ordained 
clergy." Under the operation of a law, which de- 
clared that any person who permitted himself to be 
brought over free of charge, should be bound to four 
years, servitude, some of the ministers, being igno- 
rant of this law, were actually held to service by those 
who had gratuitously transported them from England. 

From this bondage they could only be free by pay- 
ing ^ve or six times the amount of their passage 
money. The parishes are described as being from 
sixty to seventy miles in length, and many were 
allowed to be void for many years, to save the expense 
of an incumbent. * * Layman were allowed to usurp the 
office of ministers, and deacons to undermine and 
thrust out presbyters ; all things concerning the church 
and religion were left to the mercy of the people." 



IN VIRGINIA. 



25 



To attempt to christianize the Indians, a cherished 
object with many good men in England, was regarded 
as utteriy idle and ridiculous. The statements of 
Mr. Godwyn are confirmed by a statistical account of 
Virginia in 1681, submitted by Governor Culpeper 
to the English Colonial Committee. The great ma- 
jority of the people were professedly members of the 
Church of England. Three or four Quaker congre- 
gations, and one Presbyterian, constituted the only dis- 
senters. 

There were fifty parishes unequally and inconve- 
niently divided, with two or three churches or 
chapels in each. The Governor held the reins in 
every thing. Ministers were to produce proof before 
him that they had been episcopally ordained. By law 
the right of presentation was in the vestry, but the 
custom of hiring the clergy by the year generally pre- 
vailed, so that presentations rarely occurred. The 
natural result was, that worthy ministers either would 
not come to the Colony, or if they did, they were 
soon driven away by the harsh treatment of the ves- 
trymen. Those that remained were mere tenants at 
sufferance, and had to be careful how they preached 
against any cherished vice of a great man of the 
vestry, lest they should be turned out of their living 
at the end of the year. There were not more than 
half as many preachers as parishes at this time. Their 
yearly salary was sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco. 

The Bishop of London had episcopal jurisdiction 
in all matters except marriage licenses, probates of 
wills, and induction of ministers ; these rights were 



26 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

reserved to the Governor. A resident commissary 
visited the parishes, and overlooked the clergy. 

In 1692 the charter of "William and Mary College 
was secured by the zealous exertions of Rev. James 
Blair, who then filled the office of Comniissary for 
Virginia. The King gave two thousand pounds to- 
ward the erection of proper buildings ; twenty thou- 
sand acres of land were granted in Pamunky Il^eck 
as an endowment, and the College was further assisted 
by a tax of one penny a pound on all tobacco sent 
from Virginia and Maryland to other Colonies, and 
afterwards by a duty on skins and furs. The objects 
of the founders were, to furnish a seminary for minis- 
ters of the gospel, to educate young men piously in good 
letters and manners, and to propagate the Christian 
faith among the Indians ; a special professorship for 
this latter named purpose was endowed and annexed 
by the celebrated Eobert Boyle. 

In 1700, a Commencement was held at the College. 
A large crowd attended. Planters came in coaches ; 
others in vessels from Kew York, Pennsylvania and 
Maryland, *^it being a new thing in that part of 
America to hear graduates perform their exercises." 
IsTot a few Indians were attracted to the place by the 
novelty of the occasion. 

At this period there were thirty-four parishes sup- 
plied with ministers ; fifteen were vacant. Each par- 
ish had a church of wood, brick or stone ; the larger 
ones had one or two chapels. The whole population 
was about sixty thousand, with only seventy preach- 
ing places. There was a parsonage house in each 



IN TIRGINIA. 27 

parish, with two hundred aud fifty acres of land 
attached, and in the wealthier parishes, a few slaves, or 
a limited stock of cattle. The allowance was still 
sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco ; if common, 
equal to eighty pounds sterling ; if of the best sweet- 
scented, equal to one hundred and sixty pounds ster- 
ling. The labor of twelve slaves was required to pro- 
duce tobacco enough to pay one clergyman. 

In this enumeration of the Virginia parishes should 
be included perhaps the Huguenot settlement at Mana- 
kintown, on James river, though it is stated, **that 
they conducted their public worship after the Genevan 
forms, and repeated family worship three times a day." 
From these persecuted Protestants have sprung some 
of th best families in the State. 

About this time the Presbyterians began to make 
some stir in the lower part of the State. 

Francis Makemie was the first preacher **on the 
Geneva model," that made his residence in Virginia. 
He had preached in Barbadoes, and in Maryland, and 
settled it is supposed in Accomac county previous to 
the year, 1699. He was licensed as a preacher under 
the Act of Toleration in 1699, and at the same time 
two houses owned by him, one '^ at Acconiack town," 
the other '^ at Pocomoke," were licensed as places for 
public worship. There was also a small congregation 
on the Elizabeth river near Norfolk. Beverly, in 
his ^* History of Virginia," published in 1705, speak- 
of dissenters, says, ^^They have no more than five Con- 
venticles among them, namely, three small meetings 
of Quakers, and two of Presbyterians." He further 



28 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

adds : ** 'Tis observed that those counties where Pres- 
byterian meetings are, produce very mean tobacco, 
and for that reason can't get an orthodox minister to 
stay among them ; but whenever they could, the peo- 
ple very orderly went to church." 

So it seems the rule was, good tobacco, orthodox 
preaching; bad tobacco, Presbyterian or Quaker preach- 
ing, or none at all. In 1710 the Presbytery of Phil- 
adelphia, wrote to that of Dublin: «*In all Virginia 
we have one small congregation on Elizabeth River, 
and some few families favoring our way in Rappa- 
hannock and York." 

Makemle, after several years of faithful and suc- 
cessful ministerial labor, died in 1708. 

The Act of Toleration gave but little relief to the few 
dissenters in Virginia. They were exempt from a 
fine of five shillings imposed on all persons who failed 
to attend the church service once in two months, 
** provided they should attend any congregation, or 
place of religious worship, permitted and allowed by 
the said act of parliament, once in two months." Of 
this law it has been well said : ^* It is surely an abuse 
of terms to call a law, a toleration act, which imposes 
a religious test on the conscience, in order to avoid the 
penalties of another law equally violating every prin- 
ciple of religious freedom. E"othing could be more 
intolerant, than to impose the penalties by this act 
prescribed for not repairing to church, and then hold out 
the idea of exemption* by compliance with the provis- 
ions of such a law as the statute of I. William and 
Mary, adopted by a mere general reference, when not 



IN VIRGINIA. 29 

one person in a thousand could possibly know its 
contents." But it must be borne in mind that this 
** was an age when the state of religion was low in 
England, and of those ministers sent over to Virginia, 
not a few were incompetent, some openly profligate ; 
and religion slumbered in the lagoon of moral lec- 
tures, the maxims of Socrates and Seneca, and the 
stereotyped routine of accustomed forms." Disputes 
between the preachers and the people were frequent ; 
"the parson was a favorite butt for aristocratic ridi- 
cule." Not unfrequeutly the more faithful and exem- 
plary pastors were ejected from mercenary motives, or 
on account of their stern denunciation of popular sins; 
the worthless were left undisturbed by public indif- 
ference. 

The self-perpetuated vestries were *^the parsons' 
masters," and ruled their clerical slaves with a high 
hand. In vain the ministers deplored their scanty and 
uncertain livings. The Commissary could do nothing. 
The few powers he possessed were disputed. He was 
the shadow of a bishop, without the right to ordain, 
or confirm, or depose a minister. And yet this poor 
apology for a bishop was watched with suspicion by a 
people that dreaded ecclesiastical tyranny. The Church 
in Virginia was without order or discipline, and held 
in her own bosom the elements of her subsequent 
overthrow. 

With the death of Francis Makemie, Presbyte- 
rian! sm almost disappeared from Virginia For 
thirty years ** not one flourishing congregation could 
be found, nor one active minister lived in her borders." 
2* 



30 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Then came the Scotch-Irish emigration, which planted 
the Genevan forms in the Valley and other portions 
of the State, where it has maintained its hold to this 
day. 

Meanwhile, the '^ Great Awakening" began in the 
ISTorthern States under the pi^eaching of the Tennents, 
Rowland, Dickinson and Frelinghuysen in ]^ew 
Jersey, and Jonathan Edwards in New England. It 
spread rapidly through a portion of Pennsylvania, 
reached Virginia, and took hold of the hearts of the 
people without the ordinary means of public preaching. 

Whitefield was in this country during the height of 
the revival, and entered into the work with all the 
ardor of his great soul. Wherever he appeared vast 
congregations thronged to hear him. He made no- 
thing of travelling two hundred miles and preaching 
sixteen sermons in a week. Physical effects occurred 
under the sermons of Rowland, not unlike those un- 
der the preaching of the Wesleyans in England. 
The hearers often fainted away, and numbers were 
borne from the churches in a state of insensibility. 

In the winter of 1740, Whitefield, on his way to 
Georgia, preached at Williamsburg. He was kindly 
received by the Governor, and the Commissary, Mr. 
Elair. Could he have remained a short time in the 
State, his eloquence, unlike any thing ever heard be- 
fore by the people, would have made a profound im- 
pression, and greatly contributed to the religious 
excitement which had already seized the public mind. 

A few years after this date, a little band of Dis- 
senters in Hanover, led by Samuel Morris, began to 



- IN VIRGINIA. 31 

assemble at his -house for divine worship. Morris was 
a plain, earnest, devout man, by trade, a bricklayer. 
He obtained from a young Scotchman a volume of 
Whitefield's sermons, taken in short hand while he 
preached at Glasgow. The plainness and fervency of 
these discourses made a deep impression on his mind ; 
he invited his neighbors to come and hear him read 
them ; they came, and while he read, many were con- 
vinced of sin. Thus, while Whitefield was passing 
in a flame of revival along the sea-board, an obscure 
bricklayer in the woods of Hanover, was reading to 
weeping sinners the burning words that fell from his 
lips in Scotland. Had he known this, how eagerly 
would he have come and taught them the way of the 
Lord more perfectly. Morris read to his rustic con- 
gregation from other books, such as ** Boston's Two- 
fold State," ^* Luther on Galatians," and his ^^ Table 
Talk." Under this simple means the concern of some 
was so great that they wept bitterly and cried out for 
mercy. The excitement spread through the settle- 
ments ; his house was too small to hold the crowds 
that flocked to his reading, and they determined to 
build a house *^ merely for reading,''^ for none of them 
had yet attempted even public prayer. It was called 
** Morris' Reading House," and is forever connected 
with the history of Presbyterianism in Virginia. 
Reports spread far and wide of the scenes at the 
** Reading House," and Morris was invited to read 
his good books in various places; thus the work spread 
with power through that portion of the country where 
the people had sunk into a cold and heartless 
formality. 



82 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Their absence from the parish churches was at 
length noticed, and they were called upon by the 
court to give their reasons for it. They were also re- 
quired to declare what ** denomination they were of." 
This they found it difficult to do, for they knew little 
of any Dissenters except the Quakers. 

At length, remembering that Luther was a great 
reformer, and that his writings had been of special 
benefit to them, they declared themselves Lutherans. 
But they soon took another name. One of their 
company on a journey was driven by a violent storm 
to take refuge in the house of a very poor man by 
the roadside. "While there his eye caught an old 
volume lying on a dusty shelf; he took it down, and 
on reading it, found that it expressed his own religious 
sentiments in the most precise terms. He offered to 
buy the book, but the man gave it to him. Sum- 
moned to appear before the Governor as a ** malig- 
nant cabal," the leading men took the old book with 
them to Williamsburg, and, after close examination 
of its doctrines, they unanimously agreed that it ex- 
pressed their faith, and resolved to present it to the 
Governor as containing their religious creed. Gov- 
ernor Gooch at once declared them to be Presbyte- 
rians, as the volume was the Confession of Faith ot 
the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. They were at 
once recognised as a part of the Established Church of 
the English realm. 

Their first preacher was William Robinson. He 
eame as an evangelist from the I^ew Castle Presby- 
tery in the winter of 1742-43. He spent the winter 
amon,2r the PrpaT^vt^^rif^Ti puttiers in N"orth Cnrolin'^ 



IN VIRGINIA. 38 

In the spring he returned to Virginia, and made a 
preaching tour through Charlotte, Prince Edward, 
Canapbell, and Albemarle counties. In July he ap- 
peared in Hanover. The **Eeading House" being 
too small to hold a third of the people, he took his 
stand under a wide-spreading oak and preached to a 
vast assembly ; four days he countinued to preach, 
and each day the crowd increased. The effect was 
great. Morris and his friends were in transports as 
the ** warm-hearted preacher poured into their ears 
and.hcarts the solemn truths of the Gospel." Many 
that came through curiosity were cut to the heart ; 
but few seemed unaffected, and numbers returned to 
their homes, ** anxiously inquiring what they should 
do to be saved." His appointments compelled him 
to leave. The people, grateful for his service, raised 
a considerable sum of money and offered it to him ; 
he declined it ; they insisted ; but he still refused. 
His generous friends were not to be baffled ; they 
found out w^here he would spend his last night in the 
county, and gave the money to the gentleman of the 
house, who privately placed it in his saddle-bags. In 
the morning, as he was taking leave, his saddle-bags 
w^ere handed him ; suspecting an artifice, he opened 
them, and behold ! the money was in the sack's 
mouth. He told them he would take the money, not 
for his own use, but to be devoted to the education of 
a poor young man of promise and piety, who was 
then studying for the ministry. ** As soon as he is 
licensed," said Robinson, **we will send him to visit 
you ; you may now be educating a minister for your- 
selves." This young man w^as Samuel Davies. Eob- 



34 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

inson kept his promise, but did not live to see his an- 
ticipation realized. In 1746 he died ; the next year 
Davies was preaching in Hanover. Kobinson was 
followed by Rev. John Blair ; he remained but a 
short time, yet his preaching was powerfully felt. 
Morris says : *'He came to us in the fullness of the 
gospel of Christ." Under his sermon one night, ** a 
whole houseful of people was quite overcome with the 
power of the word, particularly of one pungent sen- 
tence." They could hardly sit or stand or keep their 
feelings under proper restraint. After him came 
Rev. John Roan ; he staid longer than Blair, and his 
preaching was attended with happy results. He pro- 
moted religion in places where there was little or none 
before : this, with the severity of his censures on the 
degenerate clergy, gave alarm, and measures were 
concerted to suppress the Presbyterian meetings. 
Roan, nothing daunted, hurled his denunciations at 
the profligate clergymen. He was a fiery preacher, 
and the crowd followed him, some from concern, 
more from curiosity; they greatly enjoyed the excoria- 
tion he gave the parsons. Reports soon reached Wil- 
liamsburg that one Roan in Hanover was' turning the 
world upside down. Charges were alleged against 
him of blasphemy and slander. **A perfidious wretch 
deposed that he had heard Mr. Roan utter blasphe- 
mous expressions in his sermons." 

The result was that John Roan was presented by 
the Grand Jury <* for reflecting upon and villifying 
the Established Religion in divers sermons." Roan 
left the State, before the court met at which the charge 
had been given, and returned to Pennsylvania. "Wil- 



IN VIRGINIA. 35 

liam Tennent and Samuel Blair followed Mr. Roan, 
and preached with signal success. A sacramental 
occasion during their stay is spoken of as a most gra- 
cious season. **It appeared as one of the days of 
the Son of Man ; and we could hardly help wishing 
we could with Joshua have delayed the revolution of 
the heavens to prolong it." 

In 1744 or '45, Whitefield was again in Virginia. 
He visited the churches in Hanover, but scarcely a 
trace of his labors has been preserved. Morris says : 
** Mr. "Whitefield came and preached four or five days, 
which was the happy means of giving us further 
encouragement, and of engaging others to the Lord, 
especially amongst the church people, who received 
the gospel more readily from him, than from minis- 
ters of the Presbyterian denomination." 

In 1747, Samuel Davics appeared with a license 
from the General Court of Virginia to officiate **in 
and about Hanover, at four meeting-houses." His 
coming was hailed with great joy. '*'Twas like a 
visit from the angel of mercy." While the people 
rejoiced, a sore affliction fell on their minister. His 
wife was snatched away by death, his own health failed, 
and he lingered for a tinae on the verge of the grave. 
But he stood at his post, preaching by day, and at 
night tossing on his bed with delirium, the watchers 
fearing he would not live till morning. At length 
his health began to improve, and he determined to 
accept the Hanover call. He could not be idle ; he 
hardly hoped to live long, and he burned to *•' carry 
with him to heaven some gems for the eternal crown." 
His preaching was greatly blessed ; the people rode 



S6 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

from eveiy quarter to hear the young preacher. Invi- 
tations poured in upon him to preach at various points 
beyond his regular field. Petitions were laid before 
the General Court, and granted, for the opening of 
other houses of worship for the Dissenters. Some of 
his preaching places were twelve or fifteen miles apart, 
others thirty, forty, and sixty. A great stir was made 
by churchmen in opposition to Davies, and strong 
efforts put forth to suppress his meetings in different 
sections. The question of licensing additional preach- 
ing houses, was brought to a legal test ; the young 
divine boldly and firmly maintained his rights under 
the Act of Toleration, though he stood face to face 
against the learned Attorney General, Peyton Ran- 
dolph. The lawyers complimented him on his 
defence, and he was sustained by the Governor and 
a majority of the Council. In 1751, there were three 
hundred white communicants in his congregation, 
besides a number of negroes. He baptized forty of 
the latter upon a profession of their faith. 

Davies felt a deep interest in the slaves, and em- 
braced every opportunity for giving them religious 
iostruction. He says, in 1755: **The number of 
slaves that attend my ministry at particular times is 
about three hundred." He was always affected when 
he looked on so many black faces eagerly attentive to 
every word, and often bathed in tears. Many by 
dint of application had learned to read plain books, 
and they eagerly sought at his house bibles and little 
religious books that had been sent out to him from 
England. They were specially fond of the Psalnis 
and Hymns. Sometimes they lodged in his kitchen, 



IN VIRGINIA. 37 

and made the niglit vocal with, their lusty songs. 
** When I would wake," says Davies, *^ about two or 
three o'clock in the morning, a torrent of sacred har- 
mony poured into my chamber and carried my mind 
away to heaven." 

A little more than ten years belabored in Virginia. 
In 1758, on the death of President Edwards, he was 
called to the presidency of Princeton College. lie 
entered with zeal upon his new work, and under his 
wise plans, the College sprung forward with renewed 
vigor. His work here was soon finished. On the 
first of January 1761, his New Year's sermon was 
from the text, '' This year thou shalt die." On the 
fourth of February he was in Heaven. Over his 
cofiin stood his aged mother ; gazing at his corpse a 
few moments in silence, she said : *' There is the son 
of my prayers and my hopes — my only son — my only 
eailhly supporter. But there is the will of God, and 
I am satisfied." He died at the ear^ age of thirty- 
seven. 

As early as 1714, it is supposed there was a congre- 
gation of Baptists in Isle of "Wight county. They 
came from England. For many years this sect made 
but little progress. 

In 1743, several Baptist families settled in Berke- 
ley county and organized a church. From this as a 
center they spread on both sides of the Blue Eidge. 
David Thomas was the chief instrument in planting 
churches in this section of the State. The denomi- 
nation rapidly increased, and in 1770, there were reg- 
ular Baptist Churches through all the Northern Keck 
above Fredericksburg. Their preachers were plain, 
3 



38 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

unlearned men, * 'characterized by an impassioned man- 
ner, vehement gesticulation , and a singular tone of 
voice." The hearers under preaching ** often gave 
way to tears, trembling, screams, and acclamations." 
The preachers were often insulted and abused by the 
populace; some were imprisoned; but persecution 
only increased their zeal and extended their influence. 
They sang hymns on their way to jail, and preached 
to the crowd through the grated windows. In Spot- 
sylvania, in January 1768, John Waller, Lewis Craig, 
James Childs, and others, were arrested and taken 
before three magistrates, who stood in the meeting- 
bouse yard. They were bound in a penalty of one 
thousand pounds to appear two days after at court 
and answer charges. When the day arrived, they 
were arraigned as disturbers of the peace. ** These 
men," said the prosecuting attorney, **are great dis- 
turbers of the peace ; they cannot meet a man on the 
road, but they must ram a text of Scripture down his 
throat." The court was sorely puzzled by the preach- 
ers, who made their own defence. They offered to 
let them go if they would consent not to preach in 
the county for a year and a day. They refused, and 
went to jail. As they walked through the streets of 
Fredericksburg to the prison, they sang, 

" Broad is the road that leads to death, 
And thousands walk together there." 

Craig lay in jail four weeks ; Waller and the rest 
forty-three days, and were then unconditionally 
released. They preached every day from the jail 
windows, and many heard to the saving of their 
souls. It appears that these ministers had a second 



IN VIRGINIA. 39 

trial. Patrick Henry rode fifty miles to attend it. 
He volunteered to defend them, and made an over- 
whelming appeal in behalf of religious freedom. He 
rose sublimely in the greatness of his theme. ** These 
men," said he, *^are charged with — ^with — what?" 
Then in low, measured tones he continued, ** preach- 
ing the Gospel of the Son of God." He paused, 
waved the indictment round his head ; the silence was 
painful. Then lifting his hands and eyes to heaven, 
he exclaimed, * * Great God ! " The audience responded 
by a burst of feeling. The great orator went on 
with irresistible eloquence, ever and anon waving the 
indictment round his head, and piercing the con- 
science of the court with dagger-like questions, till 
at length he exclaimed in a tone of thunder, his eagle 
eye fixed upon the court, *^ What laws have they vio- 
lated?" The excitement had reached its flood. The 
King's attorney shook with agitation. The court was 
deeply moved. The presiding justice exclaimed, 
** Sheriff, discharge those men." 

The persecuted Baptists brought their case to the 
notice of the Deputy Governor, John Blair. He wrote 
to the King's attorney of Spotsylvania that he should 
not *^ molest these conscientious people so long as they 
behave themselves in a manner becoming pious chris- 
tians, and in obedience to the laws, till the court,, when 
they intend to apply for license, and when the gen- 
tlemen who complain may make their objections and 
be heard." After receiving this letter, the attorney 
*^ would have nothing more to say in the affair." 

The ** Separate Baptists," as they were called from 
having left the Established Church, appeared about 



40 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the year 1754. They were most numerous m the 
southern tier of counties. Their most famous 
preacher was Samuel Harris. He traversed a great 
part of the eastern division of the State, and preached 
with great success. He founded the first Separate 
Baptist Church in upper Spotsylvania in 1767. 

In a few years, this sect had planted churches from 
the Blue Eidge to the Bay shore, north and south of 
James River. 

The hand of persecution was felt most heavily by 
the Separate Baptists, who for several reasons failed 
to secure licenses for their meeting-houses, as did 
the Regular Baptists. David Tinsley, one of their 
preachers, was confined in Chesterfield jail, and in 
several other counties their ministers languished in 
prison. The Church, in the midst of these troubles, 
resolved to hold a public fast day, * '• in behalf of their 
poor blind persecutors, and for the releasement of 
their brethren." 

From this period, 1768, to the breaking out of the 
Revolution, Dissenters rapidly increased in the Colony. 
The discussion that followed the passage of the **Two 
Penny Act," brought the clergy of the Establishment 
into disrepute in all those parishes where they 
opposed it. In the memorable trial in Hanover, in 
which the great question at issue between the planters 
and the parsons was tried, the eloquence of the youth- 
ful Henry overwhelmingly defeated the church party, 
and gave a fresh impulse to religious freedom. In 
the same year of this trial, 1763, Whitefield was 
again in Virginia. His labors during this visit seem 
to have been confined chiefly to the Northern IlTeck. 



IN VIRGINIA. 41 

James Waddell, afterward celebrated a& the blind 
preacher of Wirt's ** British Spy," was the Presby- 
terian minister in that portion of the State. White- 
field's first sermon was from the text: **For other 
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is 
Jesus Christ." It was a most affecting appeal to a 
vast concourse of people. Again he preached to a 
crowded house from the words: **And while they 
went to buy, the bridegroom came ; and they that 
were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the 
door was shut." They carried their dinners with 
them to this meeting, * * much to the satisfaction of 
Mr. Whitefield." During his stay he purchased a 
'* chair-horse" from one Mr. Selden, with which 
on trial he was much pleased. Several interesting 
reminiscences of this visit have been handed down. 
He is described as very neat in his dress, cheerful in 
the social circle, and extremely fond of children. He 
agreeably entertained his friends with a history of his 
narrow escapes from mobs while preaching in England. 
A lady, who was very young at the time, used to 
tell how he would catch her on his lap, saying : 
'* Come here, my little girl," raising his wig and 
taking her hand, **here, put your finger in that gash, 
there is where the brick-bat hit me." 

Perhaps of this journey he wrote when he reached 
Philadelphia, ^^all along from Charleston to this 
place, the cry is, for Christ's sake stay and preach to 
us ! 0, for a thousand lives to spend for Jesus !" 

While the Dissenters w^ere zealously laboring to 
spread their tenets through the State, the intolerance 
of the reigning sect displayed itself in continued per- 



42 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

secations. In a letter written in 1774, Madison, tlien 
a young man, thus refers to the condition of things 
in his vicinity: ** Poverty and luxury prevail among 
all sects ; pride, ignorance and knavery among the 
priesthood, and vice and wickedness among the laity. 
This is bad enough ; but it is not the worst I have to 
tell you. That diabolical, hell-conceived principle of 
persecution rages among some ; and to their eternal 
infamy, the clergy furnish their quota of imps for such 
purposes. There are at this time in the adjacent 
county not less than ^ve or six well-meaning men in 
close jail for publishing their religious sentiments, 
which, in the main, are very orthodox." He further 
says : **I have neither patience to hear, talk, or think 
of any thing relative to this matter ; for I have squab- 
bled and scolded, abused and ridiculed so long about 
it to so little purpose, that I am without common 
patience. So I must beg you to pity me, and pray 
for liberty of conscience to all." 

So great and vital were the questions of religious 
freedom and the separation of Church and State, in 
the opinion of this great man, that he gives it as his 
firm belief that, '*If the Church of England had 
been the established and general religion in all the 
Northern Colonies, as it has been among us here, and 
uninterrupted harmony had prevailed throughout the 
Continent, it is clear to me that slavery and subjec- 
tion might have been, and would have been, gradu- 
ally insinuated among us. Union of religious senti- 
ment begets a surprising confidence, and ecclesiastical 
establishments tend to great ignorance and corrup- 
tion, all of which facilitate the execution of mischiev- 



IN VIRGINIA. 43 

ons projects." It is but simple justice to add liere 
the explanation of this opinion given by Madison's 
biographer, Mr. Rives: **It was the union of relig- 
ious sentiment, made binding by force of law, which 
Madison deprecated as hostile to liberty. The history 
of our Revolutionary struggle in Virginia shows that 
there was nothing in the Church establishment, as 
such, that was essentially dangerous to liberty. To 
the honor of Virginia, be it said, that she was ' the 
nursery of liberty in the New "World.' Among the 
vestrymen of the Church in those early times are 
many names afterwards illustrious in the annals of our 
Revolutionary struggle; names of men who pledged 
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to 
the cause of human freedom throughout the world." 
The tide was setting in strongly against the Estab- 
lishment ; public opinion was being shaped by such 
leaders as Jefferson and Madison. The day was 
swiftly coming when the high claims of the Church 
must give way before reason and common sense. By 
the time the war broke out, it is supposed that two- 
thirds of the people in the State favored the Dissenters. 
Still they were compelled by law to pay tithes to sup- 
port the Church clergy. This grievous wrong was 
loudly complained of, without any hope of redress, 
under the rule of the mother country. The first 
Republican Legislature was crowded with petitions for 
the abolition of Church rates. The House was 
divided. The Church party was led by such men as 
Edmund Pendleton and Robert Carter Mcholas ; the 
liberal party by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, 
and George Mason. The conflict lasted almost daily 



ii MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

for two months, and then the liberals only secured 
the repeal of the laws ** which rendered criminal the 
maintenance of any religious opinions, the forbear- 
ance of repairing to Church or the exercise of any 
mode of worship ; to exempt Dissenters from contri- 
butions to the support of the Established Church, and 
to suppress only until the next session, levies on the 
members of that Church for the salaries of their own 
incumbents." 

The Church party carried a resolution ** that religi- 
ous assemblies ought to be regulated, and that provi- 
sion ought to be made for continuing the succession 
of the clergy, and superintending their conduct,"— 
and even in the bill relieving the Dissenters *' was in- 
serted an express reservation of the question, whether 
a general assessment should not be established by law, 
on every one, to the support of the pastor of his 
choice ; or whether all should be left to voluntary 
contribution." 

The Bill for Keligious Freedom which finally passed 
the Assembly was the decided step towards breaking 
down the effete Church Establishment ; and the dis- 
ruption of the unholy tie between Church and State. 

It sets forth in the Preamble — the freedom of the 
mind;— the injustice and impiety of attempting its 
coercion, — the presumption of falHble and uninspired 
men in attempting to control the faith of others — ^that 
to compel a man to support opinions that he disbelieves 
is sinful and tyrannical — that every man should be 
free to give ''his contributions to the particular pastor 
whose morals he would make his pattern, and whose 
power he feels most persuasive to"' righteousness" — 



IN YIRGINIA. 45 

that no man should be proscribed on account of hia 
religious opinions — ^that to impose disabilities for such 
reason, is to encourage dishonesty and hypocrisy — 
that the civil magistrate can only rightly interfere 
when principles break out into overt acts against peace 
and good order ; — and finally, that truth is great and 
will prevail — ^that she is the proper and sufficient an- 
tagonist to error, which ceases to be dangerous when 
truth is free to combat it. 

The Act declares '* that no man shall be compelled 
to frequent or support any religious worship, place or 
ministry whatever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, 
molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall 
otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions, 
or belief ; but that all men shall be free to profess, 
and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters 
of religion, and the same shall in no wise diminish, 
enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." 

These rights were declared to be ** the natural rights 
of mankind ;" and the Assembly further declared, 
*'that if any Act shall be hereafter passed to repeal 
the present, or to narrow its operation, such Act will 
be an infringement of natural rights." This Bill was 
reported to the Legislature in 1779, but did not pass. 
The same year the Church rates were abolished. To 
this there was great opposition. In 1784 an effort was 
made to establish a provision for teachers of the Chris- 
tian Religion by a general assessment. 

** This was a compulsory tax on all for the support 
of the clergy, but it allowed each person to decide to 
what denomination his contributions should go. This 
»vas the best arrangement the Anglican Church could 



46 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

now hope for ; and most of the Dissenters it would 
seem (the Baptist being the only exception as a Church) 
were ready to join the former on this ground and 
unite in a strenuous effort in favor of the measure." 
It must not be presumed that the Methodists are in- 
cluded in this remark, for they were of too little im- 
portance in the State at that date to receive much 
notice in connection with such matters. 

A tremendous struggle followed. On one side stood 
James Madison, George Mason and George Nicholas, 
with a host of ardent and zealous reformers. On the 
other stood George Washington, Patrick Henry, John 
Marshall, and Eichard Henry Lee, backed by all the 
clergy of the Establishment, and most of the wealthy 
gentry of the State. The most earnest opposition to 
the bill only secured a delay until the next session, on 
the ground of submitting the question to the people. 
The enemies of the measure used every effort to arouse 
the opposition of the people. 

A powerful remonstrance against it from the able 
pen of Madison was freely circulated. Opposition 
gave way in all quarters before his unanswerable ar- 
guments. The next session showed a decided majority 
against the plan, and it was wholly abandoned. In 
1786 Jefferson's Bill for Eeligious Freedom was passed. 
The disruption of the Church Establishment speedily 
followed. In 1801 an order was passed for the sale ot 
all the glebes by the overseers of the poor as soon as 
vacated by existing incumbents, except those made as 
private donations prior to 1777. Thus was the last 
link broken between Church and State. 



IN VIRGINIA. 47 



CHAPTER II. 

Robert Williams, Emigration to America. Labors in New York 
and other places. First appearance in Virginia in 1772. His 
preaching at Norfolk and Portsmouth. Visits Petersburg in 
1773. GressettDavis— his letter to Mr. Wesley. First preaching 
place in Petersburg. Archibald McRoberts. Devereux Jarratt, 
State of Religion. Startling sermons of Jarratt. His faithful 
labors. First American Methodist Conference. First regular 
Circuit in Virginia. Revival, under Williams and Jarratt. Meth- 
odist church built in Petersburg. Marriage and settlement 
of Williams. His death. Estimate of his Character. 

TO the Rev. Robert Williams belongs the honor of 
planting Methodism in Virginia. He was born 
in England, but had settled in Ireland, where he la- 
bored as a local preacher in connection with the 
Methodist Societies. Frona Mr, Wesley he received 
a license to preach under the authority of the regular 
missionaries in the American field. 

He was almost as poor as his divine Master. He 
sold his horse to pay his debts, and sailed for the Kew 
World with an outfit consisting of a pair of saddle-bags 
containing a few pieces of clothing, a loaf of bread 
and a bottle of milk. His passage was paid by a 
Mr, Ashton, who came over in the same vessel. 
This gentleman settled in one of the Korthern States, 
and was a firm friend of the early preachers to the 
end of his life. His house was always open to the 
weary itinerants, a prophet's room was set apart for 



48 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

their special accommodation, and at his death he 
left *' a legacy of three acres of ground for a parson- 
age site, a cow for the preacher, that he might never 
want milk, and a perpetual annuity of ten dollars to 
the oldest unmarried preacher of the Kew York 
Conference." 

Mr. Williams landed at Bew York early in the fall 
of 1769, in advance of Messrs. Boardman and Pill- 
moor, lie at once entered the field opened by the la- 
bors of Philip Embury. The hearts of the little band 
were soon after gladdened by the arrival of Mr. 
Boardman. We find some quaint and interesting 
items respecting Mr. Williams and his co-laborers in 
Wakeley's **Lost Chapters." This volume is based 
upon the records of the old John Street Society, which 
were happily discovered by some Methodist antiqua- 
rian after having been lost for many years. The fol- 
lowing extract will fill a break in the brief history of 
Mr. Williams, and furnish a view of the Steward's 
oflice among the fathers. The account runs thus : 

20 Sept. 1769. To cash paid Mr. Jarvis 
for a hat for Mr. Wil- 
liams, £2. 5. 0. 

22 Sept 1769. To cash for a book for 

Mr.Willams, 0. 0. 9. 

9 Oct. 1769! To cash paid Mr. mwton 
for three pairs of stock- 
ings for Mr. Williams 
and Mr. Embury, 1. 11. 9. 

11 Oct. 1769. To cash paid for a trunk 

for Mr. Williams, 0. 12. 6, 



IN VIRGINIA. 49 

30 Oct. 1769. To cash paid Mr. Wil-^ 

liams to pay his expenses, 1. 16. 0. 

30 Oct. 1769. To cash paid for a cloak 

for Mr. Williams, 3. 0. 6. 

I March, 1770. To cash paid for Mr. Wil- 

liams' horse, while at 
Douglass' on Staten Is- 
land, 3. 16. 8. 

20 March, 1770. Cash paid Mr Williams, 5. 8. 0. 

20 March, 1770. To ditto, paid for keeping 

his horse, 0. 12. 0. 

10 April, 1770. To cash paid Dr. Nesbit 
for attendance on Mr. 
Williams, &c. 4. 10. 6. 

24 April, 1770. To flannel for Mr. Wil- 
liams, 0. 3. 0. 

II June, 1770. To cash for a letter for Mr. 

Williams from Dublin, 0. 2. 8. 
26 July, 1770. To John Beck for keeping 

Mr. Williams' horse, 0. 16. 6. 
26 July, 1770. To cash paid Mr. Maloney 

for shaving preachers, 2. 5. 6. 
Sept., 1770. To postage on two letters, 

one for Mr. Williams and 

one for Mr. Pillmoor, 0. 4. 8. 
15 April, 1771. To Mr. N"ewton for Mr. 

Williams, 2. 5. 6. 

30 Aug., 1771. To cash paid Caleb Hyatt 

for Mr. Williams' horse 

keeping, 1. 18 0. 

From this record it appears that Mr. Williams la- 
4 



66 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

bored ia the City of New York with brief intervals 
from the fall of 1769 to the close of the summer of 
1771. 

There is no entry in the accounts from the 30th of 
October, 1769, to the first of March the following 
year. 

Messrs. Boardman and Pillmoor landed at Glouces- 
ter Point, in New Jersey on the 24th of October, 1769; 
thence they came to Philadelphia. After remaining 
there a short time they separated, Boardman going to 
New York, while Pillmoor made a short visit to Ko- 
bert Strawbridge, in Maryland. Soon after the arrival 
of Boardman, Williams visited Philadelphia and re- 
ceived from Pillmoor a general license to travel and 
preach as a missionary. He next appears in Mary- 
land, where he probably spent the winter, laboring in 
union with Strawbridge, the father of Methodism in 
that State, and John King, who had lately come over 
from England and received license to preach as a mis- 
sionary. Under these faithful men **a good work 
began in Baltimore county and other parts of the 
State," the fruits of which remain to this day. 

In this revival William Watters, the first native itin- 
erant American Methodist preacher, was converted. 

Early in the spring, Williams was again in New 
York. His labors were confined to that section until 
the fall of 1771, when we find him on the Eastern 
Shore of Maryland, passing down the peninsular to- 
ward the lower portion of Virginia. This journey is 
spoken of as a *' successful missionary tour." It was 
a gathering of first fruits. Methodism has since 
reaped a great harvest in that part of Maryland. 



IN VIRCINIA. 51 

The date of his first appearance ia Yirginia, is 
1772. He landed at Norfolk early in the year, and 
at once opened his mission. He preached his first 
sermon at the door of the Court House. Standing 
on the steps, he hegan to sing. Attracted by the no- 
vel sound the people gathered around, and gazed on 
him with astonishment. The hymn finished, he 
kneeled and prayed. He then announced his text, 
and preached to a most disorderly crowd. A few lis- 
tened, but most of them talked, laughed, and moved 
about in all directions. ]S"othing daunted, the sturdy 
missionary poured from a full heart the simple truths 
of the gospel. To the wondering multitude he was 
an enigma. Never had they heard the like. '^Some- 
times," said they, '* he would preach, then he would 
pray, then he would swear, and at times he would 
sing." 

Unaccustomed to hearing preachers freely use the 
words, **hell," **devil," &c. , in their sermons, when he 
warned them of the danger of going to hell, of 
being damned forever, of dwelling with the devil 
and his angels, they declared he was swearing. **He 
is mad," was the verdict. Of course no house was 
opened to entertain a madman. He preached again. 
A few hearts were touched, and the stranger was fed 
and sheltered, not as mad, but as speaking the words 
of truth and soberness. The tree of Methodism was 
thus planted in an uncongenial soil, but, watered from 
on high, it struck its roots deep, and put forth goodly 
branches, bearing much fruit. 

For a very interesting reminiscence of Robert Wil- 
liams' early labors in Korfolk, the writer is indebted 



52 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

to the venerable and Rev. Arthur Cooper, who yet 
lingers among us in 

" An old age serene and bright, 
And peaceful as a Lapland night." 

After the burning of the first Cumberland Street 
Churchy and while the workmen were clearing away 
the rubbish and digging for the foundation of the new 
building, they came upon a fragment of an old brick 
wall, the remains of a house that once occupied the 
spot. Mr. Cooper's mother, one of the oldest Metho- 
dists in the town, stated that she distinctly remembered 
one of "Williams' sermons preached from the front 
steps of a house that stood on this very spot. 

It is a remarkable coincidence that the Methodists 
should have unwittingly built their first church on the 
spot where their first preacher stood and delivered his 
message to the multitude that crowded the narrow 
street 

Portsmouth was at this time visited by this faithful 
man, and the seed of the gospel cast into good ground. 
At the time of his arrival at Norfolk, Isaac Luke, a 
citizen of Portsmouth, happened to be in the place on 
business. He was a member of the Church of Eng- 
land, and possessed the form of godliness. The mo- 
ment he saw Williams he was struck with his appear- 
ance, and determined to hear him preach. Detained 
by his business, he reached the Court House after the 
preacher had taken his text and was in the midst of 
his sermon. As he listened the word went to his 
heart ; he felt that the speaker was a preacher of 
righteousness, and of a different stamp from any he 



IN VIRGINIA. 53 

had ever listened to. He felt that he needed a thorough 
change of heart before he could become a Christian 
indeed and in truth. At the close of the sermon he 
approached the stranger and invited him to visit 
Portsmouth. The next day Williams went over and 
preached the first Methodist sermon ever heard in the 
town, under a couple of persimmon trees, where seats 
had been provided for the congregation. 

Williams continued to preach in the open air, and 
in private houses until his friend Luke, and a few 
others, fitted up a warehouse as a preaching place. A 
good degree of success attended the labors of the 
missionary. ]N"umbers were deeply convinced of sin 
and turned to God. Isaac Luke was under deep con- 
cern for his soul ; indeed so great was his anguish of 
mind, that his friends feared the loss of his reason. 
But these fears were groundless ; it was a strange 
thing in those days to see persons under very serious 
concern for their souls, and to hear them crying out, 
** God be merciful to me a sinner." He was happily 
converted and became a pious and useful member of 
the Methodist Church, in which some of his descend- 
ants remain to this day. 

How long Williams continued his labors in I^orfolk 
and Portsmouth we have no information. It is not 
unlikely that he soon recrossed the Bay and resumed 
his .work in Maryland. He was followed in the spring 
by Pillmoor, who, in Connection with Boardman, had 
planned a tour of observation from Philadelphia as 
far South as Savannah. His labors were confined 
during the summer to Norfolk, Portsmouth, and other 
places in the Eastern part of the State. His earnest 
4* 



54 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and powerful preaching excited the opposition of the 
easj-going Parish Clergy of that day. During his 
temporary absence from the town the church parson 
attempted to turn the tide of feeling more strongly 
against the Methodists by preaching a sermon from 
the text : * * Be not righteous overmuch. " He assured 
the people that he knew from experience the evil of 
being over righteous ; at which of course they felt no 
small degree of surprise. He failed, however, to 
make his points clear, and his warmest friends were 
sadly disappointed at the performance. To the sur- 
prise of the parson, Pillmoor returned a few days 
after, and soon gave notice that he would preach on 
the verse next following the parson's text ; ** Be not 
overmuch wicked." The whole town was astir, and 
the people crowded to the preaching place. Having 
read the text, he said he had been informed that a 
certain divine of that town had given the people a 
solemn caution against being righteous overmuch. 
Then lifting his hands, and with a very significant 
countenance, he exclaimed, **and in Norfolk he hath 
given this caution !" That was sufiicient. The odi- 
ous conduct of the parson was exposed, and the people 
were severely rebuked. 

The second visit of Williams to Norfolk was made 
in the fall of 1772 in company with William Watters. 
They made the journey by laud from Baltimore. 
Grossing the Potomac at Alexandria they passed 
through the lower counties, speaking to the people 
personally about religion, and preaching whenever an 
opportunity offered. 

On Saturday after leaving Baltimore they reached 



IN VIRGINIA. 5? 

King William Court House. Here they were kindly 
invited to lodge with a Mr. Martin and to preach the 
next day. They preached at his house in the forenoon, 
and at the Court House in the afternoon. The con- 
gregations were ** tolerably large and well behaved, 
but discovered great ignorance of experimental re- 
ligion." 

On the whole route "Williams and his youthful col- 
league preached at every convenient point, and intro- 
duced religious conversation as they rode by the way, 
and as they sat by the fireside in taverns, or in private 
houses; **but alas!" writes Watters, '*we found 
very few in the course of three hundred miles who 
knew experimentally, anything of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, or the power of his grace." 

They were the first Methodist preachers that had 
bver passed through this spiritual wilderness. "Weary 
and worn with toil they at length reached I^orfolk. 
The picture of the place drawn by Watters is by no 
means inviting. '* Our friends," he says, '^received 
us kindly, but I found very little satisfaction among 
them for some time. Their convictions were slight, 
and their desires very faint. The greater part of them 
could hardly be said to have the form of religion. 
Such Methodists I had never seen, nor did I suppose 
there were such upon earth. My experience and warm 
feelings led me to conclude that all who bore the name 
must be like those with whom I had been acquainted 
in the neighborhood I had left. Many hundreds at- 
tended preaching, but the most hardened, wild, and 
ill-behaved of any people I had ever beheld in any 
place." 



56 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

This picture is highly colored, and natui'ally so, 
drawn by a young Christian in the full flush of his 
new-born zeal ; it is, however, sustained in its main 
features by an anecdote of Pillmoor. As he was 
passing through Portsmouth on his return from the 
South, he came upon two men at the ferry, who were 
swearing most horribly. He raised his hands, and 
with a stern voice exclaimed : ** Well ! if I had been 
brought to this place blindfolded, I should have known 
I was near Norfolk." 

The winter of 1772, Williams spent in Norfolk 
and its vicinity. In February, the next year, we find 
him in Petersburg. He came at the solicitation of 
two gentlemen, whose names are identified with the 
introduction of Methodism into that town, Gressett 
Davis and Nathaniel Young.- In the following letter 
to Wesley, dated July 11th, 1780, Davis gives a very 
interesting account of the rise and progress of Method- 
ism in Petersburg and the adjacent country : 

*' About fifteen years ago the people called Ana- 
baptists began to preach and make some stir. About 
the same time we were blessed with two worthy min- 
isters of the Episcopal Church, who preached the 
strange doctrine of salvation by grace. Both these 
met with much opposition. 

** Eleven years ago, under the preaching of good 
Mr. McRoberts, my eyes were opened to see the 
spuituality of the law. I was convinced of sin. This 
w^as the fourth sermon I had heard from this minister. 
The word conversion was as new to me as if there 
had been no such term in the English language. As 
to Christians, I knew noi of one within twentv milps ; 



IN VIRGINIA. 57 

in short, I did not know that it was the privilege of 
any, except ministers of the gospel, to feel what I 
now experienced. I got acquainted with Mr. McRo- 
berts, and some members of the Baptist Church, all 
of whom preached final perseverance. I was opposed 
to this doctrine, and stood against all their persuasions 
to become a Baptist. 

*'Mr. McRoberts and Mr. Jarratt preached the same. 
In 1772 I became acquainted with a young man from 
Yorkshire, England, who had been brought up from 
his youth in your societies, (Nathaniel Young byname,) 
who informed me of you and the people called Meth- 
odists. This young man, who I fear had lost the 
vital part of religion, an old formal Quaker, and 
myself, hired the Theatre in this place, and bound 
ourselves to invite any and every sect and party, who, 
we thought, preached the truth of the gospel as far 
as conversion, to come and preach in the said house, 
under this restriction, that they should not intermed- 
dle with the principles of church government. We 
soon got many traveling preachers, more than at our 
set out I thought were in America, of Churchmen, 
Presbyterians, Baptists and Quakers, to come and 
preach, though nothing yet appeared from the devil's 
agents but persecution. 

In a few months after the house was opened, the 
good Mr. Robert "Williams, of your connexion, made 
a visit to E'orfolk. Young and myself, both having 
connections in the mercantile line at Norfolk, in- 
vited the good old man up to this place. His en- 
trance among us was in February, 1773. I informed 
this faithful servant of Christ that our faith was 



58 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

plighted to eacli other not to admit any who would 
not promise not to intermeddle with opinions. The 
old man replied, we only wanted a change of heart 
and to preach up holiness of life. This we readily 
agreed to. He labored among us about the town, 
and no fruit appeared for several weeks. We then 
furnished him a horse, and he travelled into the 
country. In a short time a surprising work broke 
out in the country, which has since spread over every 
part of the State of Virginia and North Carolina. 
Thus entered and thus flourished Methodism^ from 
an unexpected, and what may be called unlikely 
beginning, until many thousands were brought from 
the power of Satan to serve the true and the living 
God." 

The Theatre, in which this **good old man" 
preached a ** change of heart" and ** holiness o€ 
life," was situated on Old street, not far from the 
river, a little below the present site of Murry's mill. 
That old house was honored with the presence of 
some of the choice spirits €>f the ** thundering legion" 
of Methodism. It was the scene of many a hard 
fought battle with the powers of darkness. One 
terrible assault from the sons of Belial has been 
handed down by tradition to the present day. Two 
glowing heralds, Hope Hull and John Easter, were 
the preachers. The house was packed from door to pul- 
pit. The slain of the Lord were many, and the 
power of Grod was present to heal them. Excited 
by the cries and groans of the stricken sinners within, 
the furious sinners without raved round the house 
like a tempest. At length they gathered, and rushed 



m VIRGINIA. 69 

with yells and curses against the doors. They burst 
in among the worshippers, throwing lighted squibs 
and fire-crackers. Meanwhile, another band brought 
up a fire-engine and played a stream of water into 
the house until every light was put out, saints and 
sinners involved in darkness, save where a bursting 
fire-cracker gave a momentary gleam, and the whole 
congregation routed and driven from the place. Great 
was the Joy of the wicked; but short was their 
triumph. God was in the work ; his hand moved it on 
in the midst of opposition, and its blessed influences 
reached and subdued not a few of those who had 
fought against it. 

The earnest, evangelical preaching of Williams 
soon brought him to the notice of McRoberts and 
Jarratt. They were the most godly and useful 
preachers of the Establishment in that part of the 
State, Archibald McRoberts was a Scotchman by 
birth. He was ordained in 1763, and was settled in 
Dale Parish, Chesterfield, in 1773-4-6. He and 
Jarratt were bosom friends. He diflered in material 
points with the Church Clergy, and in 1779 left the 
Establishment, and united with the Presbyterians, 
among whom he was regarded as an excellent and 
useful man. He settled in the county of Prince 
Edward. An interesting anecdote is related of him 
in connection with the furious incursion of Tarleton 
into the State, in 1781. A detachment of soldiers 
was sent to rob and burn McKoberts' house : he had 
barely time to escape before the dragoons dashed into 
the yard. They broke into the house, ripped open 
the beds, smashed the furniture, set the house on fire 



60 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and rode off. It burned very slowly, and a sudden 
Ehower of rain extinguished the flames. McEoberta 
looked upon this as a divine interposition, and named 
the place Providence. It has ever since borne this 
name. _. 

Devereux Jarratt> will ever be mentioned with 
love and veneration as a pure and zealous preacher 
of the gospel, and a warm friend of the early Method- 
ist preachers. He was the minister of Bath Parish, 
Dinwiddle, from 1763 to 1801. He was born in New 
Kent county, January 6, 1732, and in early life lost 
his father. An elder brother inherited the moderate 
estate. He was sent to a plain school, and in the va- 
cations, divided his time between working on the farm 
and training race horses and game cocks. Occasion- 
ally he worked as a carpenter, which trade his father 
had followed before him. At nineteen he determined 
to be a teacher. Hearing of a situation in Albemarle 
county, he set out to find it, carrying his all, save one 
shirt, on his back. He reached the place, and was 
engaged at a salary of £9. 7s. per annum. The third 
year he taught in the family of a pious lady who greatly 
assisted him in his religious life. He now became 
deeply concerned about the salvation of his soul, and 
being associated with Presbyterians he was inclined 
to that Church. But on reading certain Episcopal 
writers, he determined to take orders in the Estab- 
lished Church. Having saved sufficient money to 
pay his expenses, he sailed for England in the fall of 
1762. He had to wait until the following spring be- 
fore he received ordination. Meanwhile he lost all 
his money by the imprudence of a friend in whose 



IN VIRGINIA, 61 

hands he had placed it for safe keeping. He was 
generously supplied by better friends with enough to 
bring him home. In 1763 he took charge of his 
parish. There were three churches, Saponey, Hatch- 
er's Bun and Butterwood. He at once entered upon 
his labors. The state of religion at that time, and 
the style of preaching adopted by the clergy, he de- 
scribes as follows : 

*' Instead of moral harangues, and advising my 
hearers in a cool, dispassionate manner, to walk in 
the primrose paths of a decided, sublime and elevated 
virtue, and not to travel the foul track of disgraceful 
vice (the favorite style o^ preaching in that day), I 
endeavored to enforce in the most alarming colors, 
the guilt of sin, the entire depravity of human 
nature, the awful danger mankind are in, by 
nature and by practice, the tremendous curse to which 
they are obnoxious, and their utter inability to evade 
the sentence of the law and the stroke of divine jus- 
tice by their own power, merit, or good works." 

Such preaching soon began to tell. *' What must 
I do to be saved ?" became the great question. 

Jarratt no longer confined himself to the churches, 
** but went out by day and by night, and at any time 
in the week, to private houses and convened the peo- 
ple for prayer, singing, preaching and conversation." 
The rumor of this work went to other parishes, and 
scores came to see for themselves. He had calls in 
abundance to preach the gospel in distant places ; he 
responded, and soon had a circuit extending five or 
six hundred miles, ** east, west, north, south." 

He visited twenty nine counties in Virginia and 
6 



6f MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

North Carolina, attending to Ms own parisli on the 
Sahbath and itinerating all the week. 

He averaged five sermons a week. His great zeal 
and success, and his alleged irregularity made him 
obnoxious to many of his clerical brethren. He was 
charged with a violation of an old English Canon, 
by preaching in private houses. He silenced them by 
saying that they never refused to preach a funeral ser- 
mon in a private house for forty shillings, and that he 
preached for nothing. Moreover, he told them that 
many of them broke the canon forbidding the use 
of cards, dice, tables, &c. , to the clergy, and were not 
punished. Some complaine«l that he encouraged lay- 
men to pray in his presence, he begged them to 
remember how often they allowed ungodly laymen to 
swear in their presence without rebuke. 

Religion was at a low ebb, when Jarratt began to 
preach his startling sermons. Not above seven or 
eight of the more aged persons at a church partook 
of the communion. When he first administered it, 
there were not more than this number that came for- 
ward to receive it ; ten years after, at his three 
churches there were a thousand communicants. Many 
years this happy state of things existed, but a sad 
change came on. During the Revolutionary war 
many of the clergy, left without support, fled from 
their parishes, and their little flocks were soon scat- 
tered. Jarratt stood at his post, and when the Metho- 
dists appeared he joined with them heartily in all 
their labors. For this he was looked upon with an 
evil eye by the established clergy. He had but little 
intercourse with them, though he occasionally attended 



IN VIRGINIA. 65 

some of their Gonveutions. At one held at Williams- 
burg in 1774y he was treated so unkindly, and heard 
the doctrine of Christianity so ridiculed, that he de- 
termined to attend no more. He kept this resolution 
until 1785, when he was present at one in Eichmond, 
but he was so coldly received that he remained only a 
few hours and then rode home. He was better re- 
ceived at the Convention of 1790, which elected 
Bishop Madison ; at that of 1792 he preached the 
opening sermon. On his way home he was requested 
to take part in an ordination at Petersburg. In the 
examination he refused two of the candidates as unfit 
for the office. *' But what did that avail," says he, 
** another clergyman was called in, and I had the mor- 
tification to hear both of them ordained the same day. 
I say hear, for it was a sight I did not wish to see." 
He sat in a pew in the corner, his head covered with 
his handkerchief. The Bishop's excuse was that 
*^ ministers were so scarce, we must not be too strict." 
AVe would fain hope that the unfitness was intellec- 
tual, not moral. 

Jarratt toiled on to the last. In 1795 he says : ** I 
have now lived in the world just sixty-two years." 
He had long before lost the use of one eye. A can- 
cer now appeared on his face ; but he says, ' * old and 
afflicted as I am, I travelled more than one hundred 
miles last week, was at three funerals and married 
two couples." In less than three months he wrote 
nine hundred pages ; a part of them he copied for the 
press, part he extracted and abridged. He had well 
nigh finished his work. On the 29th of January, 
1801, he entered into rest, aged sixty-nine . His widow 



64 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

survived him many years. They had no children. 
This faithful man will reappear again in the course of 
our narrative. 

The first meeting between Jarratt and Williams was 
in March 1773, a few weeks after the arrival of the 
latter at Petersburg. 

Jarratt draws this picture of his new friend : ** He 
was a plain, artless, indefatigable preacher of the gos- 
pel ; he was greatly blessed in detecting the hypocrite, 
razing false foundations, and stirring up believers to 
press after a present salvation from the remains of 
sin." Such a man was well fitted for the work upon 
which he was now entering. How greatly he was 
honored of God in it, even the meager history of his 
brief career will abundantly prove. 

On the 14th of July, 1773, the first American Con- 
ference assembled at Philadelphia. It is not known 
how many preachers attended, certainly not more than 
**six or seven, most of whom were from England." 
The whole number of members reported was 1160, 
viz : Kew York 180, Philadelphia 180, New Jersey 
200, Maryland 500, Virginia 100. Six circuits were 
formed and ten preachers were stationed; of these 
Virginia had two ; **E"orfolk, Eichard Wright ; Pe- 
tersburg, Robert Williams." It appears from the 
most reliable accounts that the whole of the year 1773 
was spent by Mr. Williams in preaching and forming 
societies in that section of the State south of Peters- 
burg. By him the Lee family was received into the 
society, which from the days of Jesse Lee until now 
has never lacked able representatives in the ranks of 
Methodism. Ko regular circuit was formed until the 



IN VIRGINIA. 65 

spring or summer of 1774. During that year many 
societies -were organized in Mr. Jarratt's parish, **and 
in other places, as far as I^orth Carolina." **They 
now," says Mr. Jarratt, ** began to ride the circuit 
and to take care of the societies formed, which was 
rendered a happy means, both of deepening and spread- 
ing the work of God." Truthful words ! The itin- 
erancy, after a trial of eighty-five years from the time 
here spoken of, is still found to be ** a happy means, 
both of deepening and spreading the work of God." 
May the day never dawn when this shall no longer 
be true of Methodism. 

The good parish minister joined in the work with a 
zeal worthy of his Master's cause ; as we have seen, 
he had been one of the chief instruments in the glo- 
rious work to which the flaming Wesleyans gave a 
new and powerful impulse. He speaks like an unsel- 
fish and true-hearted Christian : ** I earnestly recom- 
mended it to my societies to pray much for the 
prosperity of Zion, and for a large outpouring of the 
Spirit of God. They did so ; and not in vain. We 
had times of refreshing indeed : a revival of religion 
as great as perhaps was ever known in country places, 
in so short a time." 

On his way to the second Conference, Mr. Williams 
met with Mr. Asbury in Baltimore. Their zeal burnt 
with a stronger flame as they mutually rehearsed the 
goodness of the Lord in their respective fields of toil. 
*'He gave us," says Asbury, **a circumstantial ac- 
count of the work of God in those parts . One house of 
worship is built, and another in contemplation ; two or 
three more preachers are gone out upon the itinerant 
6 



66 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM- 

plan : and in some parts the congregations consist of two 
or three thousand people. " But this j oy had its balanc- 
ing power; *' evil minded persons had opposed the 
Act of Toleration, and threatened to imprison" the 
Virginia Apostle. He escaped fi'om their clutches^ 
however, and went on his way rejoicing that he could 
suffer for the cause of Christ, 

The one hundred reported to the first Conference 
were the early fruits of Mr. Williams' labors. The 
next year the work greatly increased. Brunswick, 
the first circuit formed in the Old Dominion, returned 
to the Conference of 1774, two hundred and eighteen 
members, while IN'orfolk alone, almost reached the 
whole number reported in 1773, the faithful labors of 
Bichard Wright having swelled the little band to 
seventy-three. 

Petersburg, included in the Brunswick circuit, had a 
society feeble in numbers, but strong in faith. The 
old Theatre, the scene of their sufferings and their 
triumphs, was abandoned, and a church built. To 
this house Mr. Asbury probably refers in the passage 
just quoted. It was situated on Harrison street west 
of the lot now occupied by Mr. G. W. Boiling. The 
struggle for Independence began soon after its com- 
pletion, and it was occupied by the patriot soldiers 
stationed in the town, first as barracks and afterwards 
as a hospital, and was finally destroyed by fire. After 
the loss of the church, Cresset Davis threw open his 
house for preaching. John Cooke, living in that part 
of the town called Pocahontas, offered his house for 
the same purpose. The names of a portion at least 



IN ymaiNiA. 67 

of those who constituted the infant society have been 
preserved. 

John Cooke, leader ; Ann Cooke, Cresset Davis, 
Martha Davis, David Thweat, Wilhani Worsham, Sa- 
rah "Worsham, Francis Baird, Batt. Gilmour, Nathan- 
iel Parrot, Lucy Parrot, William Lewis, Samuel 
Brazington, George Elliot, Peggy Elliot, Francis 
Bearil, Sarah Langby, Mary Wirom, Susanna Bur- 
ton, Frances Jackson, Jane Stephenson, EliasBarnaby. 
The name of Nathaniel Young is not in the list and 
it is doubtful whether he united with the society. 

Soon after the close of the war the second church 
was built. The enterprise was started by the inde- 
fatigable Davis, who headed the list with a subscrip- 
tion of fifty pounds, no small sum in those days. 
This house stood in Market street, near the residence 
of Mr. Hartwell Heath. It is described as ** very 
small, unique of its kind, and showing any amount 
of props, beams, and girders." It was afterward en- 
larged, and a gallery added for the colored people. 
But it wa& a holy place in its plainness^ and greatly 
honored by the Divine presence. Of m*any a happy 
spirit shall it be said, in the day of the Lord, he was 
born there. 

It is supposed that the Methodists had no church 
building in Norfolk until about the year 1794. Mr. 
Asbury on his first visit to the place in June, 1775, 
found them worshipping in an ''old, shattered build- 
ing which had formerly been a play-house." Here as 
in Petersburg they began in one of Satan's deserted 
temples. He immediately " set on foot a subscrip- 
tion for building a house of worship," but the society 



68 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

was poor, feeble in numbers, and lacked spirituality, 
liberality and zeal. Only about thirty-four pounds 
were obtained. War was impending, *' martial 
clamours confused the land," and the scheme was de- 
ferred to a more auspicious period. 

They held on to the'* old, shattered play-house," 
and in the midst of all his discouragements, Asbury 
cherished the hope that the Methodists would yet 
* * have a house and a people" in Norfolk. 

Joseph Herriter, a faithful and zealous man, opened 
his house for preaching, and it was thus honored for 
years before the erection of a church. It stood at the 
intersection of Church and Free Mason streets, but 
has long since passed away, and given place to more 
modern structures. The first Methodist church in 
Norfolk was built on a lot fronting the west side of 
Fen Church street. It stood on blocks seven or 
eight feet high, on account of the marshy nature of 
the ground, and to protect it from the tide which made 
up very near the spot. It was a plain wooden building, 
with an end gallery for the colored people, capable of 
seating about four hundred persons. 

In the minutes of the Conference for 1774, the 
name of Robert Williams is found under the ques- 
tion, <* who are assistants this year?" but it does not 
appear in the appointments. It is probable that he 
married about that time, and ceased to travel as a 
regular itinerant. His home was on the main road, 
about midway between Suffolk and Portsmouth. 
Here he died. For many years his grave was remem- 
bered and pointed out by a connection of the family 
in which he married, but since her death all trace of 



IN VIRGINIA. 69 

the last resting place of this venerated pioneer of 
Methodism has heen lost. Kot the rudest stone 
marked the spot ; perhaps the very grave yard has 
been turned out into the common ; or the careless 
plow boy whistles his merry air as he drives his bright 
share over the dust of Eobert Williams. 

On the 26th of September, 1775, the '*good old 
man" laid aside his armor and entered into rest. 
Bishop Asbury, in his journal thus briefly notices the 
melancholy event : ** Tuesday 26. Brother "Williams 
died. The Lord does all things well : perhaps brother 
Williams was in danger of being entangled in worldly 
business, and might thereby have injured the cause of 
God. So he was taken away from the evil." On 
Thursday following his funeral was preached by Mr. 
Asbury. 

Eobert Williams was neither a brilliant nor a learned 
man ; he was ** a plain, simple hearted, pious man," 
laboring with untiring zeal and with wonderful suc- 
cess in his Master's cause. He preached in an ** affec- 
tionate and animated manner" that went directly to 
the hearts of his hearers. 

The following picture is from Lee's history : ** He 
was a plain, artless, indefatigable preacher of the 
Gospel, and often proved the goodness of his doctrine, 
by his tears in public, and by his life and conduct in 
private. His manner of preaching was well calculated 
to awaken careless sinners, and to encourage penitent 
mourners. He spared no pains in order to do good 
He frequently went to church to hear the established 
clergy, and as soon as divine service was ended he 
vvould go out of the church, and standing on a stump, 



70 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

block, or log, began losing, pray, and then preacli to 
hundreds of people. It was common with him, after 
preaching, to ask most of the people some question 
about the welfare of their souls." 

He was the first preacher in America that followed 
the example of Mr. Wesley in the circulation of tracts 
and books. Jesse Lee also tell us that he ^* reprinted 
many of Mr. Wesley's books and spread them through 
the country." He issued Wesley's sermons iu tract 
form and circulated them freely with the happiest re- 
sults. He thus **gave the people great light and 
understanding in the nature of the l^ew Birth and in 
the Plan of Salvation." These silent messengers also 
'* opened the way for the preachers to many places 
where they had never been before." The first Con- 
ference interdicted the printing of books as a private 
enterprise. No preacher in America was to print 
*^ any of Mr. Wesley's books without his authority, 
and the consent of his brethren." Mr. Williams re- 
ceived permission to sell the books he had already 
printed, but was to print no more save in accordance 
vsith the resolution of the Conference. It was de- 
signed by that action to make the publication of books 
a denominational enterprise, with a view to the estab- 
lishment of a fund for charitable purposes. From 
this germ grew the mammoth Book Concern of the 
Methodist Church. To Robert Williams is parti- 
ally due the credit of turning the thoughts of the 
early preachers toward a field that has since yielded 
so rich a harvest. For, besides the pecuniary gains 
of this great scheme, by which the church has fed 
herhuBgry and clothed her naked, in how vast a 



IN VIRGINIA. 71 

multitude of souls have the seeds of life been planted 
by means of good books scattered broad-cast over the 
land? 

We look with peculiar feelings on him who stands 
first in a great cause. Robert Williams preached the 
first Methodist sermon on Virginia soil, he formed 
the first society, he |>rinted the first Methodist book, 
he aided in building the first church, he made out the 
plan of the first circuit, he was the first to marry, 
the first to locate the first to die, the first of that 
band of heroes that passed into the City of our God, 
and took Ms place amid the white-robed Elders 
around the Throne. 

His record though brief and imperfect on earth, is 
fully written in heaven. His zeal and fidelity are 
certified to us byhisgreat co-laborer, Francis Asbury, 
and by his illustrious son in the Gospel, Jesse Lee. 

Six years was he spared after landing in America, 
then his light went out in death .; and Asbury, re- 
tuTning from his fresh grave, sat down and wrote in 
his journal: **Hehas been a very useful, laborious 
man, and the Lord gave him many seals to his min- 
istry. Perhaps no man in America has been an 
instrument of awakening so many souls as God has 
awakened by him." 

Jesse Lee said ; ** Although he is dead, he yet 
epeaketh to many of his spiritual children, while 
they remember Ms faithful preaching and his holy 
walk." 



72 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER in. 

The new Circuit in Virginia— Its preachers — its extent— Great 
revival — Francis Asbury in Virginia— Poor prospects in his 
field — George Shadford— Wonderful revival under his preaching 
in Virginia — Jarratt heartily joins in the work — his estimate of 
it — Thomas Rankin — His preaching in Virginia — Extent of the 
revival — Increase in the membership — Sad effect of the war — 
Prejudices against English preachers — Conference at Leesburg — 
First ever held in Virginia — Decrease in the membership— Ed- 
ward Dromgoole — Isham Tatum — New circuits. Agitation on 
the question of Ordinances. 

FEOM tlie Conference held at PlnladelpHa, May 
25, 1774, four preachers were sent to Yirginia. 
** E"orfolk, John King ; Brunswick, John Wade, 
Isaac Rollins, Samuel Spragg." 

The new circuit embraced as much territory as two 
or three modern Districts. It was formed on the six 
weeks' plan, and ** extended from Petersburg to the 
south, over Eoanoke river, some distance into North 
Carolina." The preachers following each other at 
intervals of two weeks, were received with open 
arms and hearts by a people hungry for the bread oi 
life. The old pioneer, Williams, who still lingered 
in the field, joined them in their happy toil ; crowds 
flocked by day and by night to the preaching places ; 
the word of God fell with power on the hearts of the 
people, and the flame of revival rose and spread 
throughout the vast field. The blessed work went on 
with but little intermission during the winter and 



IN VIRGINIAo 73 

spring of 1774 and 1775, Mr, Williams was again 
the bearer of good tidings to Mr. Asbury at Balti- 
more. Ftider date of April, 1775, be says in bis 
journal : "I met witb Brother Williams from Vir- 
ginia, who gave me a great account of the work of 
God in those parts ; — five or six hundred souls justi- 
fied by faith, and five or six circuits formed." 

While this great work was going on in Brunswick 
circuit, John King was not idle at his post. He was 
not confined to l^orfolk and Portsmouth, but regarded 
himself as a missionary ** to the south parts of Vir- 
ginia, where his labors were made a blessing to many 
people." It should be borne in mind, that in those 
days there were no stations in the modern sense of 
the term, the towns being only central points, from 
which the strongholds of the enemy were assaulted 
in all directions. They formed part and parcel of 
the circuits, as they do still among the English Wes- 
leyans. A deep religious feeling seized the hearts of 
the people wherever the preachers appeared. Jesse 
Lee, who mingled in these scenes of revival, burning 
with zeal as a young soldier of the cross, says, ** the 
Lord wrought wonders among us that year." He 
was ^* glad to go to meeting by night or by day," 
travelled many miles " on foot" to hear the word 
preached, and ^^ thought himself highly favored" and 
amply repaid for the toil. We may well believe that 
the same spirit animated the entire company of be- 
lievers in that day. N"or were they merely hearers 
of the word ; when sinners fell beneath the sword of 
the Spirit, and cried aloud for mercy, the Christians 
gathered round, and amid their prayers, and songs, 
6 



T4 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and instractions, the struggling captives burst into 
life, liberty, and happiness. Often were the exercises 
of prayer and praise continued through the night, 
and the gray dawn broke on saints and sinners wrest- 
ling with the Angel of the Covenant like Jacob on 
Peniel, each crying in the faintness of the flesh, but 
in the strength of faith, " I will not let thee go, ex- 
cept thou bless me." 

The returns made from Virginia to the third Con- 
ference, May 17, 1775, greatly rejoiced the hearts of 
the brethren. Norfolk reported 125 against 73 the 
previous year, while in Brunswick there were 800 
members, a net increase of 582. Thirty members 
were reported from Fairfax, a new circuit which had 
been formed during the year, and embraced probably 
the entire scope of countrybordering on the Potomac 
River, reaching from Dumfries, in Prince William 
county, to Leesburg, and possibly as far west as the 
Blue Eidge. A new circuit had also been formed 
covering a large territory on . the north side of the 
James River. It was called Hanover, ** but in the 
minutes it was included in Brunswick circuit." So 
inviting a field was not to be neglected. Six preach- 
ers were appointed to Virginia, nearly one-third of 
the whole number that composed the Conference.. 

"Norfolk, Francis Asbury; Brunswick, George 
Shadford, Robert Lindsay, Edward Dromgoole, 
Robert Williams, William Glendenning." The name 
of Mr. Williams was continued on the minutes, and he 
was put down in the appointments for Virginia, 
though he was in fact local. He was probably held 
as a supply in case of sickness or absence on the 



IN VIRGINIA. ^5 

part of the regular itinerants. There is no special 
locating act of the Conference in the minutes ; indeed, 
no reference appears to have been made to the subject 
until the Conference of 1779, when for the first time 
occurs the question, ^'"Who desist from travelling?'^ 

On Monday, May 29, 1775, Francis Asbury 
landed at ]!:Torfolk. It was his first appearance in 
Virginia. The prospects in the town were not fiat- 
tering. He found thirty persons in society, with no 
regular class meetings, and no place of worship but 
the ** old, shattered play-house." He preached on 
Tuesday evening to *^ about one hundred and fifty 
souls;" the next morning at -&ve o'clock to "about 
fifty." The presence of God was with them, "it was 
a good time," and hope began to dawn in the heart 
of the preacher. Mr. Asbury made Norfolk and 
Portsmouth his headquarters, but extended his laboi^ 
into the surix)unding country. He found a " society 
of thirteen serious souls six miles from Portsmouth 
on the Suffolk road." There was another preaching 
place, and probably a few members near Crany 
Island. In another place, in the house of " a man 
of gloomy spirit but solid piety," he found " a true 
spiritual church — three souls all of one mind and 
sincerely intent on seeking and serving the Lord." 
Forcing his way to "the farthennost part of Ports- 
mouth parish," through such a swamp as he had 
never seen before, he found a few "people of simple 
heart," to whom he preached and with whom he 
"partook of a blessing." For five months he toiled 
in town and country with but little success. 

Portsmouth gave him more hope and comfort 



76 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

than any otlier place. Here lie found ^* a few as 
faithful and happy souls as perhaps we have in any 
part of Virginia;" the power of Satan was great, 
however, among the people both here and in Nor- 
folk, for he immediately adds, "and unless Divine 
justice has determined destruction on these two towns, 
I hope the Lord will undertake for them and increase 
their number." He found twenty-seven persons in 
society in Portsmouth when he first came in June ; 
he carefully sifted the chaff from the wheat, and in 
October the number was reduced to fourteen. 

"While Asbury was toiling on amid these discour- 
agements, the whole region embraced in the Bruns- 
wick circuit was flaming with revivals. Tidings ot 
the work reached Asbury, and he burned with de- 
sire to be with his " dear brother Shadford," in that 
part of the vineyard. In October he writes: "I 
expect to go to Brunswick shortly, and my heart 
rejoices in hopes of seeing good days, and many 
souls brought to. God in those parts." One week 
later he writes exultingly, "I am bound for Bruns- 
wick !" The people were unwilling to give him up. 
**Some that had been displeased with my strictness 
in discipline were now unwilling to let me go ; but 
I fear they will not soon see me again, if they should 
even say ' Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the 
Lord !' " He pushed on rapidly, and three days after 
writes, "I am now within a few miles of dear brother 
George Shadford ; my soul catches the holy fire 
already." 

George Shadford, the chief instrument in the great 
work which broke out in the latter part of 1775, in 



IN VIRGINIA. ?7 

the counties south of Petersburg, was born in Eng- 
land, January 19, 1739. His life before his entrance 
into the ministry was an eventful one. His parents 
were nominally religious, and took him to church 
once at least every Sunday ; when dinner was over, 
he and his sister **read a chapter or two in the 
Bible," and were ** charged not to play in the after- 
noon." He was taught to say his prayers every 
night and morning, and was sent to be catechized 
regularly every Sunday by the Parish minister. At 
fourteen he was confirmed, and at sixteen partook of 
the .Sacrament. This made a deep impression on his 
mind. ** When I approached the table of the Lord, 
it appeared so awful to me, that I was likely to fall 
down, as if I was going to the judgment seat of 
Christ." Three months his good impressions con- 
tinued. His Sundays were devoted to reading ; some- 
times in his chamber, at other times in the fields ; 
but his choice place for religious exercises was the 
church-yard. Among the graves he would linger for 
hours together, reading, reflecting and praying, until 
in the transport of his love, he seemed to be * 'tasting 
the power of the world to come." 

But he did not then find peace. "Had I been 
acquainted with the Methodists at that time, I should 
have soon found remission of sins and peace with 
God. But I had not a single companion that feared 
God ; all were light and trifling ; the whole town was 
covered with darkness, and sat in the shadow ot 
death." He soon lost all the ground he had gained, 
all good desires and resolutions, and plunged head- 
7 



78 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

long into sin. "Wrestling, running, leaping, foot- 
ball, dancing were his favorite sports ; lie gloried in 
them, and excelled all the young men '* in the town 
;and parish." At twenty he seemed a "compound 
of life and fire, and had such a flow . of animal 
spirits," that he was never so happy as when leading 
in such sports. 

He now felt a martial spirit, and for seven guineas 
took the place of a man who had been drafted to 
serve in the army. The first winter while in camp he 
fell sick of a violent fever, and found himself "hor- 
ribly afraid of death," but he recovered alike of his 
fever and his fears. The dread of being killed in 
battle hung over him continually; he felt that he 
should be lost, soul and body together. 

His convictions clung to him amidst all the disso- 
luteness of the camp. The next, year his misery in- 
creased. Exceedingly provoked by a comrade, he 
** swore at him two bitter oaths." Immediately he 
felt as if stabbed to the heart by a sword. An awful 
sense of guilt fell upon him, and he at once aban- 
doned his habit of swearing. Temptations to put 
an end to his life haunted him day and night. He 
was afraid to stand on the river bank lest he should 
fthrow himself in ; if he stood on the edge of a great 
rock, he was seized with trembling and instantly fled 
lest he should cast himself down headlong ; in the 
gallery at church he was many times forced to draw 
back, " being horribly tempted to pitch headforemost 
among the people. It seemed as if Satan was per- 
mitted to wreak his malice upon me in an uncom- 



IN yiRGINIA. 79 

mon manner to make me miserable ; but, glory be 
to God, I was wonderfully preserved by an invisible 
band in tbe midst of sucb dreadful temptations." 

In tbis state of mind he went to a Metbodist meet- 
ing. Tbe preacher's manner was new to him and 
struck him forcibly. "He took out his hymn-book 
and the people sung a hymn. After this he began 
to pray extempore in such a manner as I had never 
heard or beenused to before. After tbis he took his 
little ible out of his pocket, read over his text, and 
put it into his pocket again. I marvelled at tbis, and 
thought within myself, *Will he preach without a 
book too V " The preacher was not learned, nor did 
the young soldier hear any thing to convince him 
that the speaker had studied at Oxford or Cambridge ; 
but something struck him: "This is the gift o 
God! This is the gift of God!" While he spoke 
against pleasure takers, and proved that such were 
dead while they lived, Shadford was cut to the heart, 
and thought: **If what he says is true, I am in a 
most dreadful condition." He felt it to be true, for 
the preacher proved it all by the word of God. Im- 
mediately he found a Judgment-seat erected in his 
soul, before which he was ** tried, cast, and con- 
demned." He now resolved to change hia life, went 
to church every Sunday, and was in a fair way to 
become a new man. But he could not stand the rid- 
icule of his comrades, and gave up all hope of being 
a Christian while in the army. He then solemnly 
vowed that if God would spare him twelve months, 
until his discharge, he would serve him. So he^; 



80 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

*^ resolved to venture another year in the' old way, 
damned or saved. The next move of the camp was 
to a place famous for *^ swearing, cursing, drunken- 
ness and Sahbath-breaking." Here in the midst of 
these horrible scenes he was again '* arrested with 
strong convictions." He was often compelled to 
leave his comrades at noon-day, run to his room, 
throw himself on his knees, and weep bitterly. 

"I thought 'sin, cursed sin, will be my ruin.' I 
was ready to tear the very hair from my head, think- 
ing I must perish at last, and that my sins would sink 
me lower than the grave." One day his landlady, 
passing the door of his room, saw him on his knees 
in an agony of prayer. At night she took him to 
task: ** Sir, are you a Wesleyan or a Whitefieldite ?" 
*'* Madam,' said I, * what do you mean? Do you 
reproach me because I pray, because I pray ?' She 
paused. I said again, * Madam, do you never pray 
to God ? I think I have not seen you at church or 
any other place of worship these ten weeks I have 
been at your house.' She replied, ' No ; the parson 
and I have quarrelled, and therefore I do not choose 
to go to hear him !' I answered, * A poor excuse, 
madam; and will you also quarrel with God ?' " 

But the soldiers laughed him out of the little form 
of prayer he had. **I dropped the form of kneeling 
by the bedside and said my prayers in bed." 

He was soon after discharged from the army, and 
returned home. His convictions were greatly deep- 
ened by finding a young woman dead to whom he 
had been tenderly attached. He sought her grave, 



IN VIRGINIA. 81 

and while he stood in deep thought, he cast his eye 
on a neighboring tombstone and read, 

" In bloom of youtb into this town I came ; 
Reader, repent ; thy lot may be the same." 

He felt as if something thrilled through him. He 
**read and wept, and read and wept again." He 
found it was the grave of a gay young lady, who had 
come to town to attend a ball. At midnight, in the 
midst of the dance, she fell to the floor, was taken 
to her bed, and from it to the church-yard. 

A short time after he attended preaching at the 
house of a farmer who had received the Methodist 
prea<3hers. As the sermon closed, he * * trembled, he 
shook, he wept; he felt that he should fall down in 
the midst of the people." At length the preacher 
called out, *^Is there any young man here about my 
age willing to give up all and come to Christ ? Let 
him come and welcome, for all things are now ready." 
In a moment, pierced to the heart with the sword of 
the Spirit, Shadford cried out, *'God be merciful to 
me a sinner!" Instantly the Lord whom besought 
came to Ms temple. ** Quick as lightning the Lord 
filled my soul with divine love ; tears of joy and sor- 
row ran down my cheeks. I sat down in a chair, for 
I could stand no longer. Twenty times over these 
words ran through my mind, * Marvellous are thy 
works, and that my soul knoweth right well.' " He 
knew not they were in the Bible, until he went home 
and opened upon them in the Psalms. 

In a fortnight he joined the Methodists. His aged 
parents were the first fruits of his labors. He waar 



82 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

soon called to the office of class-leader and his ser« 
vices were greatly blessed to the societies in his neigh- 
borhood. He battled with fearful doubts before he 
consented to take up his cross and preach. The night 
before his first sermon, he spent ** three or four hours, 
Lintil past midnight, in fervent prayer" that the Loi'd 
would direct his way and give a convincing proof of 
Ms call. The next day under the word several were 
cut to the heart, and the people of God made to re- 
ioice ; the young preacher went home perfectly satis- 
fied of his call to the work. He was now fairly in 
the field, and his ardor carried him beyond his strength. 
Loud and long preaching, long and fatiguing walks, 
praying and reading often through the whole night, 
brought him to the verge of the grave. As he lay 
lingering between life and death God seemed to give 
him a vision of his future field. " One day, as I 
was in bed, full of the love Of God, I had a visionary 
sight of two prodigious fields, in which I saw thou- 
Bands of living creatures praying and wi^estling in 
difterent places, in little companies." 

He felt that he must go to the help of these strug- 
gling masses. He took up his Bible and opened on 
the words " Thou shalt not die, but live, and declare 
the works of the Lord. ' ' His recovery was rapid from 
this time, and after continuing to preach two years 
longer in a local capacity, he was received by Mr. 
Wesley into the Conference. He labored efiiciently 
in England for several years. Meeting with Captain 
Webb, at the Conference at Leeds, in 1772, and hear- 
ing him exhort the preachers to go to America, he 
felt his spirit stirred in him to go. He and Mr. 



IN VIRGINIA. 83 

Eankin offered, and were accepted by Mr. Wesley. 
When lie came to tlie port wliere the ship lay in 
which he was to embark ** an awful dream" which he 
had six years before came to his mind. He dreamed 
that he received a letter from God which contained 
these words : ** You must go to preach the gospel in 
a foreign land, unto a fallen people, a mixture of na- 
tions." " I thought I was conveyed to the place 
where the ship lay in w^hich I was to embark in an. 
instant. The wharf and ship appeared as plain to 
me as if I were awake. I replied, * Lord, I am willing 
to go in thy name ; but I am afraid a people of dif- 
ferent nations and languages will not understand me. 
This answer was given : ' Fear not, for I am with 
thee.' I awoke, awfully impressed with the presence 
of God, and full of divine love. I could not tell 
what this meant, and revolved these things in my 
mind for a long time. But when I came to Peel, 
and saw the ship and wharf, then all came fresh to 
my mind. I said to Brother Eankin, * This is the 
ship, the place, and the w^harf, which I saw in my 
dream six years ago.' " 

They embarked " and after a comfortable passage 
of eight weeks," landed at Philadelphia, June 3, 
1773. They were kindly received by a ** hospitable 
and loving people." Shadford crossed over to " the 
Jerseys," and spent a month in preaching and visit- 
ing, adding during that time thirty-five to the society. 
Here he met with John Brainerd, brother to the cele- 
brated Indian Missionary, David Brainerd. **He 
heartily wished us good luck, and said he believed 
the Lord had sent us upon the Continent to revive 



84 . MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ixiward religion among them." He next went to 
!N"ew York, where lie labored four months, adding 
fifty members to the society. Five months he spent 
in Philadelphia, ** with a loving, teachable people," 
where many '^ were converted to God." His next field 
was Baltimore. From this city he extended his la- 
bors into the country around, aud was greatly suc- 
cessful. Four miles from Baltimore he was called to 
see a poor young man who was kept chained in bed, 
supposed to be mad, or possessed of a devil. He 
found him under strong conviction and in the depth 
of despair. He staid by the bed-side, and spoke of 
Jesus to the sufferer, then called the family, and all 
kneeled in prayer. The power of God fell upon 
them ; every heart melted, every eye streamed with 
tears ; they rose, unchained the young man's limbs, 
God smote the fetters from his soul, and he rejoiced 
in spiritual freedom. He began to warn his neighbors, 
Boon after took a circuit, and that year a hundred 
sinners were awakened under his ministry. 

Shadford's appointment to Virginia caused him 
much dejection of mind, but he often " felt much of 
this before a remarkable manifestation of the power 
and presence of God." He felt that the Lord would 
strip and empty before he filled. 

He entered upon his work in Virginia in the sum- 
mer of 1775. The ground had been in a measure 
prepared by Williams, Jarratt and others, full of faith 
and of the Holy Ghost. 

There were eight hundred in society on the circuit, 
but they were joined "in a very confused manner." 
Many classes were without leaders, and many of the 



IN VIRGINIA. '85 

members did not understand tlie nature of class meet- 
ings. The preachers resolved to begin in good earnest 
to instruct the societies. As soon as preaching was 
over they spoke to all the members one by one, and 
by this means they were soon well instructed in the 
doctrines and discipline of the Church. The most 
cheering signs followed these efforts. 

Shadford was amazed. Under almost every ser- 
mon sinners were convinced and converted ; * ' often 
three or four at a time." Among the first converts 
was a dancing-master. On week days he came to 
meeting dressed in scarlet, on Sundays he appeared 
in green. He invited Shadford to preach in his own 
neighborhood ; he could not at that time, every day 
being engaged. Still the dancing-master followed 
Mm, and brought another of his profession. Going 
to an appointment one day, a friend said to him, 
**Mr. Shadford, you spoiled a fine dancing-master 
last week." And so it proved. He was cut to the 
heart, and so burdened with a sense of guilt that ** he 
could'nt shake his heels at all." He soon afterfound 
peace, joined the Methodists, lived six or seven years 
a faithful Christian, and died *^ a great witness for 
God." Shadford was on another occasion stopped 
by a great flood of water ; turning back, he came to 
a large plantation and asked for lodging. He was 
kindly received, and after taking some refreshment, 
proposed to preach if a congregation could be had. 
A messenger was sent out, and many came, "but 
they were as wild as boars." The word however took 
effect upon their rude hearts ; the planter and his 
wife were both converted, and a society of sixty or 
7* 



86 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

seventy raised up in the settlement. The work grad- 
nallv increased through the summer and fall ; in mid- 
winter it broke forth with unusual power. It began 
almost simultaneously at three different points, two 
of these were in Mr. Jarratt's parish, the other in 
Amelia county. The people in these neighborhoods 
had long been notorious for their wickedness. Im- 
moralities of all kinds abounded. They delighted in 
gambling, swearing, drinking, racing, and held all 
sacred things in utter contempt. The year previous 
a few souls had been gathered in this unpromising 
field ; this was the earnest of a great harvest. Shad- 
ford moved among the wondering multitude like an 
angel of light. Chapels and private houses were 
crowded by curious hearers ; ** their ears were opened 
by novelty, but God sent his word home upon their 
hearts." Convictions were powerful, indeed, awful ; 
mercy ! mercy ! was the cry that rose to heaven by 
day and by night. The meetings were held for hours 
through the day, and often whole nights were spent 
in the blessed work of saving souls. All ages, and 
all grades felt the power of God and fell before it ; 
veteran, gray-headed sinners, men in middle life, in 
the full strength of their manhood, young men, and 
maidens, and children of tender years, bowed together 
before the Lord, and lifted up their prayers to the 
mercy-seat. The preachers were not enough to carry 
on the mighty work ; exhorters and class leaders took 
the stand, and multitudes hung upon their lips to hear 
the word of life. 

E'o matter who spoke, the power of God ** was still 
*mong the people ;" and often in. the prayer meetings 



IN VIRGINIA. 87 

held by the people themselves, the manifestations oj 
the Spirit were glorious and awful. Through a cir 
cumference of four or five hundred miles the flame 
swept on with increasing power. 

In the beginning of May, 1776, at a quarterly 
meeting at Boisseau's Chapel, Dinwiddle county, the 
work broke out with astonishing power. ** At that 
meeting," writes Jesse Lee, '* the windows of heaven 
were opened indeed, and the rain of divine influence 
continued to pour down for more than forty days." 
In the love feast, on' the second day, the whole 
assembly felt the power of the Holy Ghost. Ko 
sooner had the exercises begun than ** the house was 
filled with the presence of God ;" the flame leaped 
from heart to heart ; sinners fell to the floor under 
strong conviction ; mourners rose with shouts of 
praise; Christians were filled with love, and gave 
glad testimony to the power of Christ to save from 
all sin. The love feast ended, the doors were thrown 
open, and an eager multitude filled the house. The 
mingled scene of anguish and rejoicing struck them 
with astonishment. Silent they stood looking on ; 
and then one after another sunk down with tremb- 
ling and tears, and cried aloud for mercy. The work 
increased in power as the meeting progressed ; on the 
last day *^ they continued in the meeting house till 
dark and then sent for candles, and continued till 
some time in the night." The noise of the battle rose 
on the still evening air, and rolled away in the distance. 
*^ I left them," says Jesse Lee, '' about the setting of 
the sun, and at that time their prayers and cries might 
have been heard a mile off»" 



88 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

In so great a revival, where hundreds of persons 
of widely different temperaments were suddenly seized 
with the pangs of conviction, we might naturally ex- 
pect some excessive enthusiasm. ** This work," says 
Mr. Lee, ** was not quite free from it. But it never 
rose to any considerahle height, nor was it of long 
continuance." Like the Jews when Ezra laid the 
foundations of the second temple, ^' some wept for 
grief; others shouted for joy, hut the voice of joy 
prevailed, the people shouted with a great shout, so 
that it might he heard afar off." 

Hundreds from this meeting returned home, pub- 
lishing the glad tidings as they went ; the flame spread 
far and wide ; in less than a month several hundred 
were converted, and hardly any thing was talked of 
but the wonderful work of God. The counties of 
Dinwiddle, Amelia, Brunswick, Sussex, Prince 
George, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg, all shared in 
the revival. The harvest appeared in every direction 
ready for the reapers, and God called and sent forth 
a number of zealous young men, who eagerly put in 
the sickle and rejoiced in great success. 

In some parts of Sussex the work was exceedingly 
powerful, and in many instances the manifestations 
of Divine power struck terror into the hearts of 
scoffers who sought fun and frolic at the meetings. 
For seven years, at one point, had a faithful laborer 
toiled on exhorting his neighbors and hoping against 
hope ; at length the cloud of mercy rose and the pre- 
lusive drops began to fall. At a class meeting two 
or three would find pardon ; at a Sunday meeting, 
without a preacher, ten, fifteen, and twenty would be 



IN VIRGINIA* S9 

converted. It was a common thing for men and 
women to fall down as dead under an exhortation, 
and twenty at a time under an earnest prayer. Some 
were converted in two or three hours, others in two 
or three days, and some struggled on for a week or 
more before deliverance came. One thoughtless girl 
left her brothers at prayer and w^ent to bed, but in a 
moment after she screamed out in agony of soul, and 
rested not till she found peace. While the Christians 
were holding a class meeting a man was observed 
looking through the crack of the door ; it was opened, 
he entered, and fell on the floor helpless as a child. 
Three hours he lay struggling under his load of sin, 
then ' * he rose and praised a pardoning God." Fifteen 
were converted that day. Six days after, at another 
meeting, a young lady came saying, she had heard that 
many people fell, and she had come to help them up. 
** The power of God soon seized her and she wanted 
helping up herself." Twenty souls found peace that 
day, among them the young lady. Another meeting 
was held soon after, " from twelve at noon till twelve 
at night." Jesus had fifteen witnesses at its close. 
The work was equally great in other counties. 

Mr. Jarratt entered into this revival with all his 
heart. He went on with ^'the preachers, hand in 
hand, both in doctrine and discipline." His parish, 
at his own request, was included in the circuit, '* that 
all who chose it might have the privilege of meeting 
in class and being members of the society." The 
wisdom of this was soon apparent. Numbers were 
aw^akened, many soundly converted, and '^in a few 
months Mr, Jarratt saw more fruit of his labors than 
8 



90 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

lie had seen for many years." The class meetings 
were particularly blessed. ** Such a work," writes 
this good man, *^ I never saw with my eyes. Some- 
times twelve, sometimes fifteen, find the Lord at one 
class meeting." It is certainly interesting to have the 
views of this honored minister of Christ in reference 
to the depth and genuineness of the work of grace in the 
hearts of the converts, and its after influence on their 
lives. He says: ** With regard to the inward work, 
there has been a great variety as to the length, and 
depth, and circumstances'of the convictions in different 
persons ; but all in general have been at first alarmed 
with a sense of the multitude and heinousness of their 
sins ; with an awful view of the wrath of God, and cer- 
tain destruction if they persisted therein. Hence they 
betook themselves to prayer, and as time permitted, 
to the use of all other means of grace ; although 
deeply sensible of the vileness of their performances, 
and the total insufiiciency of all they could do to merit 
the pardon of one sin, or deserve the favor of God. 
They were next convinced of their unbelief, and faith 
in Christ as the only condition of justification. They 
continued thus waiting upon the Lord, till he spoke 
peace to their souls. This he usually did in one mo- 
ment, in a clear satisfactory manner, so that all their 
griefs and anxieties vanished away, and they were 
filled with joy and peace in believing. Some indeed 
have had their burdens removed so that they felt no 
condemnation. And yet, they could not say they 
were forgiven. But they could not be satisfied with 
this. They continued instant in prayer till they knew 
the Lamb of God had taken away their sins. 



IN VIRGINIA. 91 

** Most* of these had been suddenly convinced of 
sin, but with some it was otherwise. Without any 
sense of their guilt, they were brought to use the means 
of grace by mere dint of persuasion ; and afterward 
they were brought by degrees to see themselves, and 
theii' want of a Saviour. But before they found de- 
liverance, they have had as deep a sense of their 
helpless misery as others." 

Of the steadfastness of the converts, he says under 
date of September 10, 1776, **I have not heard of 
any one apostate yet. It is true, many, since their 
first joy abated, have given way to doubts and fears, 
have had their confidence in God much shaken, and 
have got into much heaviness. Several have passed 
through this, and are now confirmed in the ways of 
God. Others are in it still ; and chiefly those over 
whom Satan had gained an advantage by hurrying 
them into irregular warmth, or into expressions not 
well guarded." 

The following reflections from this truly useful man 
cannot be too deeply impressed upon the heart of a 
preacher. **A man of zeal, though with little 
knowledge or experience, may be an instrument of 
converting souls. But after they are converted, he 
will have need of much knowledge, much prudence 
and experience to provide proper food and physic for 
the several members, according to their state, habit, 
and constitution." As the most experienced minister 
then in the field, this work devolved especially on Mr. 
Jarratt ; the growth of religion in his parish shows 
how faithfully he performed it. 

In the summer Thomas Rankin came into Virginia, 



92 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

He preached his first sermon at Boisseau's Chapel on 
the last day of June. Under the second sermon^ in 
the afternoon, ** such power descended that hundreds 
fell to the ground, and the house seemed to shake 
with the presence of God." The building was filled 
to the utmost, and hundreds from without pressed on 
all sides to get in. ** Look wherever we would, we 
saw nothing but streaming eyes and faces bathed in 
tears ; and heard nothing but groans and strong cries 
after God." The voice of the preacher was lost 
*^ amid the groans and prayers of the congregation." 
More than an hour the mighty effusion lasted. In 
vain the preachers attempted, again and again, to 
speak or sing. They could only sit in the pulpit 
** filled with the divine presence, exclaiming, ' This . 
is none other than the house of God ! this is the gate 
of heaven!'" The meeting continued until night, 
and even then the people reluctantly withdrew to 
their home's. 
^ The next Sunday he preached at another church nL 
thirty miles distant. The text was from Ezekiers 
L.' ^dsion of the dry bones : " And there was a great 
,'^ shaking." The house was crowded, while **four or 
t five hundred stood at the doors and vdndows, listen- 

ing with unabated attention." During the sermon 



4 he was compelled to stop several times and beg the 

\ / people to be composed. They could not. While he 

was speaking, some were on their knees, others on 
their faces, " crying mightily to God." " Hundreds 
of negroes were among them, with the tears streaming 
down their faces. " 

'Eext Sunday he was again at Boisseau's. The 



IN VIRGINIA. 93 

people were more quiet tlian on the former occasion, 
and at the close of the sermon he thanked them for 
their **good behaviour." He then left the place to 
dine with a friend. No sooner was he gone than 
they began " to sing, pray, and talk to their friends ;" 
many knelt as penitents, and when the preacher came 
back, he found fifteen happy converts. He begged 
them to be quiet while he preached again. They re- 
strained themselves till near the close of the sermon ; 
then cries and tears, and prayers, again burst forth. 
In vain he appealed to them ; the tide of feeling was 
too strong. He sat down and asked Shadford to 
speak to them. He rose, " and in a little time cried 
out in his usual manner : ' who wants a Saviour ? the 
first that believes shall be justified.' " In a few minutes 
the house was ringing vdth the cries of broken-hearted 
sinners, and the shouts of happy believers. It was 
an awful time indeed. 

Eankin continued his journey toward North Caro- 
lina, preaching to ** large congregations" that ** re- 
ceived the word with all readiness of mind." So 
*' vehement was the thirst after the word of God" 
that he " frequently preached and prayed till he was 
hardly able to stand." They clung about him, and, 
'* there was no getting away while he was able to 
speak one sentence for God." At Koauoke Chapel 
he preached to more than double what the house would 
hold. " The windows were all open, everyone could 
hear, and hundreds felt the word of God." 

He now returned upon his track, and on the 30th 
and 31st of July, held a quarterly meeting at " Ma- 
bury's dwelling house" in Brunswick. The scene 



94 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

here was one of true moral grandeur. In anticipa- 
tion of a vast crowd, an arbor liad been built cover- 
ing the yard, and capable of sheltering several thousand 
persons. The first day was one of power, hut on the 
second the Holy Ghost fell on all that heard the word. 
Between eight and nine in the morning the Christians 
met in love-feast under the arbor ; it lasted until noon. 
In the midst sat the band of believers, around as close 
as they could sit and stand, were hundreds and hun- 
dreds of people. In rapid succession the members 
rose and bore testimony to the saving power of the 
Gospel. Some told how the Lord had justified them 
freely, others, how and when the blood of Jesus had 
cleansed them from all sin ; while others with strong 
cries and abundant tears, sought for " pardon or 
holiness." An awful feeling crept over the vast 
assembly ; '' hundreds were in tears." The oldest 
preachers present had hardly ever seen such a time. 
** For the work of God," says Kankin, *^ wrought on 
these two days, many will praise God to all eternity." 
The triumphs of the day closed with a watch-night, 
at which Mr. Jarratt preached ** an excellent sermon," 
and " the rest of the preachers exhorted and prayed 
with divine energy" — surely these holy men were 
never weary in well-doing ; beginning with a love- 
feast at nine in the morning, and closing at midnight ; 
and throughout the day of battle, exhorting and 
praying with divine energy. There were giants in 
the land in those days. 

Fourteen counties in Virginia were reached by this 
blessed work. It crossed the Eoanoke into North 
Carolina, and in both States the fields were opening 



IN VIRGINIA. 95 

wide and wMte to the reapers. When the preachers 
closed up their year's work, the result was glorious. 
Eighteen hundred had been added to the societies. 
Many had been sanctified and rejoiced in that perfect 
love that casteth out all fear. 

The returns from Virginia to the fourth Confer- 
enee> which met at Baltimore, May 21, 1776, will 
best show the state of the work at this time. In 
Fairfax the number had increased from 30 to 350 ; 
Hanover reported 270 ; Pittsylvania 100 ; Bruns- 
wick 1611 : Korth Carolina returned 683 ; Norfolk, 
though blessed with the faithful services of Asbury, 
showed no increase, the number 125, stood the same 
as the preceding year. Nine preachers were sent 
from this Conference to Virginia. " Fairfax, Wil- 
liam Watters, Thomas McClure, Adam Fornerdon : 
Brunswick, George Shadford, William Duke, Wil- 
liam Glendenning : Pittsylvania, Isaac Rollins ; 
Hanover, Philip Gatch, John Sigman." Norfolk 
was dropped from the minutes this year. ** The war," 
says Jesse Lee, *^ had so distressed the town that we 
could not keep a preacher in that station." Hanover, 
Fairfax and Pittsylvania were enrolled as regular cir- 
cuits. Philip Gatch, who labored this year in Han- 
over, gives a brief account of it in his memoirs : 
** My circuit was very large. It lay on both sides of 
James River and was a part of six counties. But it 
appeared like a new world of grace. The Baptists, 
who preceded us, had encountered and rolled back 
the waves of persecution. Shubal Stearns and Dan- 
iel Marshall, who were the first fruits of George 
Whitefield's labors in the East, had become Baptist, 



96 MEMORIALS 0^ METHODISM 

members of the separate order. They travelled ex- 
tensively througli the State and others, through their 
instrumentality, were raised up, and became faithful 
and zealous ministers, and they endured a great deal 
of persecution. John Walter, with whom I became 
intimate, was an American in sentiment, a good 
preacher, and suffered much for the cause. He was 
confined in jail, first and last, one hundred and thir- 
teen days, in different comities." The congregations 
were very large, and he was compelled to preach in 
the orchards and gi'oves. In the fall, by exposure and 
excessive out-door preaching, his health gave way, and 
he came very near dying. *' It appeared to me that 
my lungs were entirely gone. Frequently I would 
have to raise up in the bed to get my breath, I felt 
it even a difiaculty to live. My sensations were as 
though thousands of pins were piercing me." But 
his work was not done ; he lived more than half a 
century after this, a faithful laborer in the vineyard. 
The preachers entered upon this work with spirit, 
and for a part of the year much success attended their 
labors. The influence of the great revival already 
noticed was still powerfully felt in many parts of 
Virginia, and many of the meetings were attended 
with extraordinary manifestations of the Spirit. But 
the black cloud of war hung over the land. The 
minds of men were agitated by conflicting interests^ 
and passions. The leading preachers being English- 
men, naturally sided with the mother country ; some 
of them indiscretly gave expression to their opinions, 
and the whole class fell under suspicion. Asbury, the 
most prudent among them, was *^ fined five pounds 



IN VIRGINIA. 97 

for preaching the gospel." Kankin, Shadford and 
Kodda were meditating a return to England. The 
native preachers, meanwhile, had hard work to main- 
tain their influence in the midst of the prejudices 
which existed against their British brethren. IlTot- 
withstanding all this, the work of God went on 
powerfully in many places, and the returns to the 
next Conference showed an increase of twelve 
preachers, and two thousand and forty-seven mem- 
bers. The minutes of 1777 show that nearly the 
whole of this gain was in Virginia, the membership 
having risen to 4,449. Nineteen hundred and ninety- 
three members were added to the Church in this 
profitable field ; fifty-four was the number reported 
from all other parts of the work. Eighteen preachers, 
one half the whole number, were appointed to Yir- 
^nia from the fifth Conference, May 20, 1777. 

Fairfax, Daniel Ruft*, John Cooper, Thomas S. 
Chew, Isaac Rollins ; Hanover, James Foster, Nich- 
olas Watters, Samuel Strong ; Amelia, Edward 
Dromgoole, Joseph Reese, Reuben Ellis ; Brunswick, 
William "Watters, Freeborn Garrettson, John Tunnell; 
Sussex, Philip Gatch, Hollis Hanson ; Pittsylvania, 
John Sigman, Isham Tatum ; Norfolk, Edward 
Bailey. Sussex and Amelia were set off from Bruns- 
wick as new circuits. Norfolk was replaced on the 
minutes. Philip Gatch, still in feeble health, was 
able to do but little in Sussex. He speaks of it as a 
pleasant circuit ; a character it has ever since retained ; 
it contained many promising societies, and the pros- 
pects were encouraging. He burned with desire to 
do good, but a single week's work would entirely 



98 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

prostrate Mm. Feeble and sick, lie still travelled 
from place to place, praying and preaching as his 
strength allowed. The kind people, fearing that in 
his lonely rides he might fall from his horse and die, 
usually sent a companion with him. One day while 
travelling with a youth, he wa& met by two rough, 
stout men. They seized him by his arms and tarned 
them in opposite directions with such violence as 
nearly to dislocate his shoulders. The pain was dread- 
ful. The torture he thought must be like that of the 
rack. His shoulders turned black, and it was a long 
time before he recovered their use. He does not tell 
us whether these wretches ever met with their well 
merited punishment. He remained on the circuit 
until the fall, when the preachers met to exchange 
appointments. Hanover had been so altered as to 
leave it only on the north side of James River. It 
was again divided so as to make a four weeks' circuit 
with the northern portion cut off; to this part Gatch 
was sent with a helper to form a new circuit. Doors 
were freely opened to them, many received the gospel 
gladly, and by Conference they had formed a four 
weeks' circuit, called Fluvanna. 

Though there was some prosperity in certain por- 
tions of the work, this was comparatively a barren 
year. There were fightings without and fears within. 
The distress of war was on the land. The people in 
many places were divided in sentiment on the ques- 
tions in dispute between the Colonies and England. 
Not only communities, but Christian societies, were 
thrown into confusion. The spirit of religion was 
lost in many quarters where it had fiourished, and the 



IN YIRaiNIA. 99 

faithful mourned over the desolation of Zion. These 
troubles were greatly augmented by the tory zeal of 
Martin Eodda, one of the English preachers. He 
distributed the royal proclamation around his circuit, 
and strove to excite opposition to the American cause. 
Detected in this work, and dreading the just resent- 
ment of the people, he fled, by the aid of some 
negroes, to the British fleet, and soon after sailed for 
England. Mr. Wesley's " Calm Address to our 
American Colonies," reached this country and greatly 
increased the difficulties of the preachers. These 
afflictions were more severely felt in the Northern 
circuits, where the war raged with much violence at 
this period. The Southern circuits were more quiet 
and prosperous, though no part of the work was 
wholly free from the sad effects of the war. The reA 
turns to the Conference of 1778, at Leesburg, the 
first ever held in the State, showed a falling off of 
seven preachers and eight hundred and seventy-three 
members. It is impossible to say in what section 
there was the greatest gain or loss, as the minutes 
for that year omit names and numbers and give only 
the aggregate. Doubtless, the largest increase was in 
the old Brunswick circuit, and the new fields that had 
been taken from it. The infiuence of the great revival 
of the preceding year, was still felt among the people, 
and in many places the woi*d of the Lord grew and 
multiplied amid all discouragements. 

Two of the preachers, sent this year to Virginia, 
Edward Dromgoole, and Tsham Tatum, were long 
identified with the interests of Methodism in the 
State. Dromgoole was an Irish emigrant. He settled 



iflO MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

in or near Baltimore, and was one of the earliest con- 
verts to Methodism in that city. He was admitted on 
trial in 1774. With an interval of a few years, he 
travelled until 1786, when he located and settled in 
Brunswick. As a local preacher he was greatly use- 
ful. The hlessing of God came upon his household, 
and he increased in worldly goods. In 1813 he wrote 
to his old friend and fellow laborer, Philip Gatch, 
'* We are still living in old Brunswick, and nearly in 
the common way of the country. My Rve oldest 
children are professors, and in society. Our youngest 
child is sixteen years of age. He is moral, hut not 
a professor yet. May the Lord bring him into the 
fold. Two of my sons are preachers. I am yet en- 
deavoring to labor in my Master's vineyard." 

He enjoyed a high social position, and some of his 
descendants have been distinguished for their elo- 
quence and learning. One of his sons became eminent 
as a lawyer and poHtician, and was for a number of 
years a member of Congress ; few men equalled him 
in that ready and persuasive eloquence that sways the 
populace and secures their confidence and support. 
One of his grandsons was an able Professor in Ran- 
dolph Macon College in its earlier days, and stood 
high as a good and learned man. 

The following interesting reminiscence of Dromgoole 
has been kindly contributed by Rev. Benjamin De- 
vaney. They met at a camp meeting in l^orth Caro- 
/ lina. ** Mr. Dromgoole possessed a high order of 
intellect ; he was plain in his dress, gentle and unas- 
suming in his deportment, of deep piety, and of great 
moral worth. He was for piety, zeal and usefulness, 



myiRGiNiA. 101 

the embodiment of a primitive Methodist preacher. 
When he entered the stand to preach, he very delib- 
erately put off his coat, and, I think his neck-cloth, 
which was nothing unusual with the old preachers of 
that day. He commenced by saying, " That the 
attention of the people may not be drawn off by inquir- 
ing who the preacher is, I will tell you. You recol- 
lect about thirty years ago, there was a young man 
who travelled here by the name of Edward Dromgoole ; 
I am the man." His text was : " God hath spoken 
once ; twice have I heard this, that power belongeth 
unto God." The power of God was the burden of 
his theme, and when, by the force of his Irish elo- 
quence, he carried us in imagination to the place 
** where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not 
quenched," it was awfully sublime, it was beyond 
description. His voice, his countenance, and his ges- 
tures, all gave a power to his eloquence which is rarely 
equalled even at this day. The copious flow of tears, 
and the awful peals of his voice, showed that the 
preacher's whole soul was thrown into the subject, 
and it produced the most thrilling effect that I had 
ever witnessed. There was not a dry eye among the 
hundreds who listened to him on that occasion. In 
my long experience and close observation, I have 
never known a local preacher who maintained so 
noble a stand, and wielded so wide a moral influence 
as he did. With Wesley, Asbury, and all his other 
compeers in the ministry, he is reaping his glorious 
reward." He lived to see Methodism number its hun- 
dreds of thousands. He entered into rest in 1835, 
in the eighty-fourth year of his age. 
8 



162 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The name of Isham Tatum first appears in 1776. 
He was for eiglit years a laborious pioneer in the new 
and hard fields of Virginia. He ** desisted from 
travelling" in 1781, and settled in the upper part of 
the State, probably in Madison county, where he lived 
to a great age. At the time of his death, a few years 
ago, he was the oldest Methodist preacher in the 
United States, if not in the world. He left a large 
number of descendants, most of whom are members 
of the church their venerable ancestor labored to 
establish. 

From the Leesburg Conference, May 19, 1778, 
eighteen preachers out of twenty-nine were sent into 
the Virginia field. 

Fairfax, William Watters, Daniel Duyall ; Berke- 
ley, Edward Bailey; Hanover, Francis Poythress, 
Nicholas Watters ; Fluvanna, Isham Tatum, Richard 
Ivy ; Amelia, Reuben Ellis, Samuel Strong ; Bruns- 
wick, John Dickins, Edward Pride ; Sussex, Edward 
Dromgoole ; Lunenburg, James Foster ; Roanoke, 
William Glendenning ; Pittsylvania, William Gill, 
John Major, Henry Willis ; James City, Isaac Rollins. 

The new circuits reported were Berkeley, Fluvanna, 
Lunenburg, Roanoke and James City. 

The large proportion of preachers sent to Virginia 
shows the importance of the work in that direction. 

The work of Korth Carolina was divided into three 
circuits, though in the minutes only Roanoke appears, 
the others were called Tar River, and E'ew Hope. 
At this Conference not one of the English preachers 
was present. The storm of the Revolution had driven 
them all from the land, except Asbury, he lay in con- 



IN rmCiNU. 103 

cealment at Judge White's, in Delaware, praying and 
waiting for more quiet times. "William Watters, the 
oldest American preacher, acted as President. 

There is scarcely an historical trace left ns of the 
state of the societies in Virginia hetween the Confer- 
ences of 1778 and 1779. Gatch states in his memoirs 
that he reported the Fluvanna circuit to the Lees- 
burg Conference with a membership of two hundred 
and fifty. Jesse Lee says : ** This was a year of dis- 
tress and uncommon troubles. The war on one hand, 
and persecution on the other, the preachers were sep- 
arated from their flocks, and all conspired to increase 
the burden of Christians." In comparing the returns 
of 1777 with those of 1779 (detailed returns being 
omitted in 1778) we find the increase in Virginia for 
the two to be only six hundred and sixty-five. In 
1777 the reported members were, Fairfax, 330 ; Han- 
over, 262 ; Amelia, 620 ; Brunswick, 1,360 ; Sussex, 
727 ; Pittsylvania, 150. In 1779 the numbers were : 
Fairfax, 309 ; Berkeley, 191 ; Fluvanna, 300 ; Han- 
over, 281 ; Amelia, 470 ; Sussex, 655 ; Brunswick, 
656 ; Mecklenburg, 498 ; Pittsylvania, 500 ; Char- 
lotte, 186 ; James City, 77. Total, 4,123. 

The societies in Virginia were now being agitated 
by a question that threatened the most serious conse- 
quences to the unity of Methodism. We refer to the 
question of the Ordinances. As the discussion and 
adjustment of this question^ form an epoch in the 
history of the Methodist Church in the State, we 
shall endeavor to give a comprehensive view of the 
whole matter in the following chapter. 



104 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER IV, 

Conference at Broken-back Church — " Contest about the Ordi- 
nances" — Reasons which impelled the Methodists to seek the 
Ordinances at the hands of their own preachers^-Decision of 
the Conference on the question — Efforts of Asbury to arrest the 
movement — Two Conferences in 1780 — Strong opposition of 
the Conference at Baltimore to the measures of the Conference 
in Virginia — Asbury, Watters, and Garrettson sent to the Man- 
akintown Conference — They offer conditions of union — Rejected 
by the Virginia preachers — Sad scenes — An unexpected com- 
promise — Asbury makes a tour in Virginia and North Carolina — 
His unceasing labors — Plan for a Kingswood school — John 
Dickens — Happy result of Asbury 's visit in quieting the people 
on the subject of the Ordinances. 

I'^HE seventh Conference, held at Roger Thomp- 
. son's, near the Broken-hack Church, m Flu- 
vanna county, May 18, 1779, determined a question 
that had for several years agitated the Methodist 
societies, especially in the South. This question was 
the "contest about the Ordinances." 

The labors of Wesley's missionaries had been 
signally hi essed. More than eight thousand members, 
upwards of fifty itinerants, besides a host of zealous 
local preachers and exhorters, were the rich fruits 
gathered in little more than ten years. But the posi- 
tion of this large body of Christians was anomalous. 
They had a pure faith, a talented, and zealous, and 
devoted ministry ; strict and well administered dis- 
cipline ; plans, the best ever devised for the spread 
of gospel truth ; and, indeed, all the essentials of a 
powerful Christian association. But technically they 



IN VIRGINIA. 105 

were not a Church. There was not a preacher from 
Asbury down, that could administer the Holy Sacra- 
ment, celebrate the rites of matrimony, or baptize a 
child. These rites they were compelled to seek at 
the hands of the Established Clergy. But many of 
these, indeed, the majority of them, were men of 
loose principles and bad habits. In many parishes 
the immorality of the ministers was notorious. Instead 
of being patterns of piety, they were examples of 
dissoluteness ; instead of reverence, they received the 
ridicule of the people. When a body of men profes- 
sing to be ministers of Christ, break from all restraint 
of gospel prijiciples, and attend races, cock-fights, 
fox-hunts ; when they drink wine to excess, sit up all 
night at card parties, and ** ridicule experimental 
religion as bigotry and superstition," can it be thought 
strange that a pious mind should revolt against such 
a class, and spurn them as spiritual guides, although 
they may have felt the pressure of prelatic hands, 
and stand as links in the chain of a fancied succession. 4- 
"As a body," says I>r. Hawkes, a very high and com- 
peiient authority on this subject, "the clergy were 
anything but invulnerable." 

Look at this picture of the times of which we write. 
** Who is there?" said a clergyman on the Middlesex 
side of the Rappahannock, aroused before day on 
Christmas morning by a loud knocking at his door. 

'* We have brought a criminal from the other side 
of the river." 

** Bring him in," said he, striking a light. 

" Who is he, and what has he been doing ?" 

"It is I," said a man, staggering into the room. 



106 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

It was indeed a clergyman from the opposite shore, 
who excited by his potations, had been disturbing the 
peaceable citizens. 

''Ah, is it you? "What are you doing out at this 
time of night ?" Provoked at being disturbed, he 
added, '' Well you shall pay your fine or take your 
stripes, as the law directs." The fine was paid and 
the parson put across the river. These men were 
old cronies, and had often caroused together. 

*' I remember well," said a gentleman, ''when a 
little boy, seeing Parson G. at our house, and often 
after dinner he was put in the gig by the servants, 
and by the order of my father tied in, and a servant 
went along to lead the horse and conduct him home, 
as he was unable to take care of himself from his in- 
dulgence at the table, to which he had been invited 
after church service on Sabbath." 

Such, with a few honorable exceptions, was the 
character of the men to whom the Methodists in Vir- 
ginia and elsewhere, had to look for the administra- 
tion of the sacraments. Jarratt, good and true man 
aa he was, travelled far and wide to give the societies 
the benefit of the ordinances, but he could not keep 
pace with the rapid strides of Methodism. 

On all sides the preachers pressed into the "regions 
beyond." Almost from the beginning, the people 
felt the need of the ordinances, and forced the ques- 
tion upon the attention of the preachers ; but they, 
trained in Wesley's school, could not for a moment 
think of incurring his displeasure by departing from 
his plans. Had there been Fletchers, and Grimshaws, 
and Perronets in America, the case might have beeo 



IN VIRGINIA. 107 

different. But no zealous churcTiman passed through 
the land preaching, baptizing and giving the Holy 
Communion to the poor sheep in the wilderness. Let 
us calmly look back upon those times. *^ Placing 
ourselves," says Dr. Lee, *^in the times of which we 
write, unless we would excommunicate Christ from 
his high priesthood in the church, and his headship 
over it, we must maintain that the man of loose prin- 
ciples and worse habits, ordained by the Bishop of 
London and sent to Virginia as a minister, was in 
every attribute of the office, whether of personal fit- 
ness or official authority, inferior to the ministers of 
Methodism in every essential qualification for the ad- 
ministration of Christian ordinances." But there was 
a higher question than that of official, or even superior 
spiritual qualifications, which the Methodists had to 
decide. 

It was a question of ** conscience between relin- 
quishing their Christian birthright altogether, or of 
seeking communion with Christ in ordinances admin- 
istered by men of selfish feelings and vicious life." 
But few could hesitate with such a question before 
them. Besides, these Methodists could not doubt, 
that the men who had been instrumental in bringing 
them to Christ for salvation, possessed, in virtue of 
their sacred call, the right to bring them into his visi- 
ible Church by baptism, and to dispense to them the 
emblems of his dying love. As believers in Christ 
they felt they had a right to the * * divinely instituted 
ordinances," and they were willing and anxious to 
receive them at the hands of those whose right to ad- 
minister them rested upon a call to the ministerial 



108 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

office, which had been put above all human question- 
ings bj the sanction of the Holy Ghost in the conver- 
sion of multitudes of souls. In their views, the great 
right to preach the gospel involved the lesser right to 
administer its appointed ordinances. But there were 
other considerations to be taken into the account. 
All through Virginia the Baptists and Presbyterians 
were rapidly spreading. Their preachers not only 
formed societies, but in the proper sense organized 
churches. When confronted by these men the Meth- 
odist preachers felt their official inferiority. In all 
things else they were equal to the best ministers among 
the dissenting sects ; but in respect to the ordinances, 
there was a painful and embarrassing inequality. 
This, doubtless, had its influence on the minds of both 
preachers and people. 

Besides, the war was raging, and all connection was 
broken off with the Mother Country. It was impos- 
sible to tell how long hostilities might continue ; the 
societies were greatly weakened, in some places almost 
broken up. There was a felt necessity for some mea- 
sure that should give them the character and perma- 
nency of a Christian Church. Nothing was to be 
expected from Wesley. The Methodists knew him 
to be a staunch Episcopalian, and uncompromisingly 
opposed to all steps looking toward a separation from 
the Established Church. They must have known 
that *'for many years" he had been importuned to 
exercise the right of ordination ; and that he had 
steadily refused ; that he desired indeed that the 
American societies should consider themselves as 
belonging to the Church of England. Let it also be 



IN VIRGINIA. 109 

remembered that this demand for ordinances was not 
from a discontented faction. It was the urgent appeal 
of a large majority of the Methodist societies. 

In 1775, there were 2,192 members north of the 
Potomac Eiver, and only 955 south of it. The next 
year there were 1,782 in the north and 3,139 in the 
south. In 1777, 4,379 were reported from the south 
and 2,589 from the north ; the following year the 
proportion was probably the same ; the minutes give 
the whole in the aggregate. In 1779, there were 
2,987 in the north, and 5,490 in the south. In 1780, 
the numbers were 5,339 in the south, and 3,165 in 
the north. 

In this comparison, we have made the Potomac 
the dividing line, though it is highly probable that 
many of the Maryland Methodists approved of the 
measures of their more southern brethren. At the 
first Conference it was found necessary ^* to press the 
people of Virginia and Maryland" to receive the ordi- 
nances at the hands of the Parish Clergy. To show 
how soon after the planting of Methodism, this ques- 
tion of the sacraments sprung up in the societies, we 
shall quote from the minutes of the first Conference 
more fully. 

It was unanimously agreed that ** Every preacher 
who acts in connection with Mr. Wesley, and the 
brethren who labor in America, is strictly to avoid 
administering the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's 
Supper." 

** All the people among whom we labour to be 
earnestly exhorted to attend the church, and receive 
the ordinances there ; but in a particular manner to 
9 



110 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

press the people in Maryland and Virginia to the ob- 
servance of this minute." From this we cannot fail 
to understand where the strongest feeling prevailed on 
the question of ordinances. The explanation of this 
Conference action is, that Strawhridge, and others in 
Maryland, were strongly in favor of meeting the wants 
of the people. Indeed, there is more than a hint in 
Ashury 's journal that some of the preachers had 
yielded to their solicitation. Under date of Decem- 
ber 22, 1772, he says that at a quarterly meeting held 
in Maryland, the question was asked; ^^Will the 
people be contented without our administering the 
the Sacrament?" He then says: '*J. K." [John 
King] **was neuter;" brother S. [Strawhridge] 
pleaded much for the ordinances; and so did the 
people, who appeared to be much biased by him. I 
told them that I would not agree to it at that time, 
and insisted on our abiding by our rules. But Mr. 
B. [who this was is not known] had given them their 
way at the quarterly meeting held here before, and I 
was obliged to connive at some things for the sake of 
peace." Whoever this Mr. B. was, it seems clear 
from this, that he had yielded to the people, and ad- 
ministered the holy sacrament. In no other sense can 
we understand Asbury's declaration that he had 
*' given the people their way," and that he had been 
compelled ** to connive at some things for the sake of 
peace." It required all the influence of Asbury to 
arrest these proceedings. But the question was not 
allowed to slumber. At the Conference of 1775 it 
came up again and found many advocates. * * It was 
with considerable difficulty," says Walters, ^*that a 



IN VIRGINIA. Ill 

large majority was prevailed upon to lay it over again 
till the next Conference." The anxiety to adopt some 
measure of relief is explained by Freeborn Garrett- 
son. He says : * * Many places, especially in the South, 
were entirely destitute of a settled ministry of any 
denomination. The Methodist preachers were not 
allowed to perform even the rites of the burial of 
their dead." Ko reference indeed is made to the 
subject in the minutes, from the first Conference to 
that of 1780 ; but we learn from the journals of the 
old preachers, that it came up at almost every Confer- 
ence that was held in this interval. It was a subject 
of inquiry at the Deer Creek Conference in Maryland. 
The question was, ' * What shall be done with respect 
to the ordinances?" The answer was, **Our next 
Conference will, if God permit, show us more clearly." 

At the ensuing Conference at Leesburg, the same 
question was asked, and the answer was, *' "We unani- 
mously agree to refer it to the next Conference." 

These repeated Conference debates, together with 
the discussions going on among the people, naturally 
excited both preachers and members to a high degree 
on this absorbing question. It could no longer be 
staved off. The decision was made at the Confer- 
ence of 1779, in the fear of God, and with an earnest 
desire to promote the cause of religion. We are in- 
debted to the journal of Philip Gatch, one of the 
leaders in the movement, for an account of the pro- 
ceedings. After the usual business had been dis- 
patched, a general discussion arose on the question of 
administering the ordinances. The conclusions reached 
were embodied in a series of questions and answers. 



112 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

*' What are our reasons for taking up the adminis- 
tration of the ordinances ?'* 

Answer: *' Because the Episcopal establishment is 
now dissolved, and, therefore, in almost all our cir- 
cuits the members are without the ordinancesv 

** What preachers do approve of this step ? 

Answer : *^Isham Tatum, Charles Hopkins, Nelson 
Eeed, Reuben Ellis, Philip Gatch, Thomas Morris, 
James Morris, James Foster, John Major, Andrew 
Yeargin, Henry Willis, Francis Poythress, John 
Sagman, Leroj Cole, Carter Cole, James O'Kelly, 
William Moore, Samuel Roe. 

** Is it proper to have a committee? 

** Yes, and by a vote of the Conference. 

** Who are the committee ? 

** Philip Gatch, James Foster, Leroy Cole and 
Reuben Ellis. 

** What power do the preachers vest in the com- 
mittee? 

**They agree to observe all the resolutions of the 
siaid committee, so far as the said committee shall 
adhere to the Scriptures. 

'*What form of ordination shall be observed to 
authorize any preacher to administer ? 

<* By that of a presbytery. 

*' How shall the presbytery be appointed? 

** By a majority of the preachers. 

** Who are the presbytery ? 

^' Philip Gatch, Reuben Ellis, James Foster, and, 
in case of necessity, Leroy Cole. 

'* What power is vested in the presbytery by this 
choice ? 



INTIRGINIA. 113 

** Firsts to administer the ordinances themselves ; 
eecond, to authorize any other preacher or preachers, 
approved of by them, by the form of Jaying on of 
hands. 

** What is to be observed as touching the adminis- 
tration of the ordinances, and to whom shall they be 
administered ?" 

** To those who are under our care and discipline. 

** Shall we re-baptize any under our care? 

'*Ko. 

** What mode shall we adopt for the administration 
of baptism ? 

Either sprinkling or plunging, as the parents or 
adult may choose. 

**What ceremony shall be used in the adminis- 
tration ? 

** Let it be according to our Lord's commandment- 
Matthew xxviii : 19 — short and extempore. 

** Shall the sign of the cross be used ? 

'^Ko. 

'* Who shall receive the charge of the child after 
baptism for its future instruction ? 

** The parent, or the person having the care of the 
child, with advice from the preacher. 

** What mode shall be adopted for the administra- 
tion of the Lord's Supper ? 

*< Kneeling is thought the most proper, but in case 
of conscience, may be left to the choice of the com- 
municant. 

''What ceremony shall be observed in this ordi- 
nance ? 

** After singing, prayer, and exhortation, the 
9 



114 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

preacher shall deliver the bread, saying, * The body 
of our Lord Jesus Christ,' etc., after the Church 
order." 

Such were the measures adopted after mature delib- 
eration and earnest prayer. 

The Conference had the unquestionable right to do 
what is here recorded. It was clothed with plenary 
power as the regularly constituted session for that year. 
*' There was a meeting of preachers," says Gatch, 
** held in Kent, Delaware, on the 28th of April, 
1779, who were opposed to the action above stated, 
and with the view to counteract it ; but their meeting 
was not a regular Conference of preachers, in con- 
nection with the Rev. John Wesley, although it was 
so asserted in their minutes." Asbury was kept from 
the Fluvanna Conference, by the same causes that 
had prevented his attendance at Leesburg, but his 
absence in no wise abridged the power of the body. 
"Nov did his presence at the meeting in Delaware in- 
vest it with any superiority. Indeed, this meeting 
was called mainly for the purpose of devising some, 
means for arresting the anticipated action at the regu- 
lar Conference in Virginia. 

Asbury felt deeply on the subject ; but there is no 
proof that he doubted the abstract right of the Meth- 
odist societies to pro vide themselves with the ordinances 
in the manner proposed in the South. He doubted 
the expediency of the measures, and feared that a 
rupture between the IsTorth and the South would re- 
sult. He wrote urgent letters to the leading preachers 
in Virginia, appealing to them ** to prevent, if pos- 
sible, a separation." He had great hopes that the 



IN VIRGINIA. 115 

breach would be healed ; otherwise he feared the 
worst consequences. 

But the tide was too strong to be stayed by the 
influence, even of Asbury. He writes: **I received 
the minutes of the Virginia Conference, by which I 
learn the preachers there have been eflecting a lame 
separation from the Episcopal Church." He pitied 
them, and predicted that it would last about a year. 
The preachers ]N"orth were, almost to a man, opposed 
to the action of the Conference, and it met with the 
disapproval of a portion of the preachers and mem- 
bers in the South. Some of the older Methodists 
refused to receive the sacrament at the hands of their 
own ministers, and adhered to their old customs. A 
few preachers, who dissented from the action of the 
Conference, took their stations Forth among those 
that agreed with them in sentiments. The new plan 
was put in operation at once. The Committee or- 
dained each other, and set apart other preachers, 
* * that they might administer the holy ordinances to 
the Church of Christ." The leaders in this measure 
were pious, able, and zealous men, in whom the peo- 
ple reposed all confidence. Their labors were greatly 
blessed, many souls were gathered into the church, 
** and Christians were very lively in religion." This 
tended to confirm them in the belief that they had 
acted wisely and with Divine approval, in determining 
to administer the ordinances. There was but little 
hope that they would recede from their position. As 
the year closed the prospect for an adjustment of the 
question became more gloomy. The demon of dis- 



116 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

cord was at work ; tlie returns showed a slight falling 
ofl* in the memberships. 

At the Conference of 1779 other important changes 
were made. The form of the minutes were altered, 
and, *' "Who are admitted on trial?" was made the 
firat question ; up to this time it had been, **Who 
are admitted into connection ?" Before this Confer- 
ence, it had been the practice to receive preachers 
into full connection after one year's trial ; the time 
was now extended to two years ; and if the Confer- 
ence doubted the piety, gifts, and usefulness of the 
candidate, they ** continued him on trial for three 
years or longer." Jesse Lee says that the question, 
' * Who desist from travelling ?" was asked this year 
for the first time. It appears in the niinutes of the 
*' little Conference," held in Delaware, but not in 
those of the regular Conference in Virginia. It may 
have been asked at the latter, and omitted in the 
record. Before this no notice had been taken of the 
preachers wbo ** desisted from travelling." Their 
names were simply dropped from the roll. The Con- 
ference agreed to consider all preachers expelled 
from the connection who should take money by 
subscription. 

Two Conferences were held in the spring of 1780. 
One of the Northern preachers, at Baltimore, April! 
24th; another of the Southern preachers, at Mana- ' 
kin town, Powhatan county, Virginia, May 9th. 
Asbury was hard at work devising conciliatory mea-^ 
surcs. On his way to the Conference at Baltimore 
he ** proposed some conditions for a partial reconcili- 
ation, in hopes to bring on a real one in Vir^nia." 



IN VIRGINU. 117 

At the Conference, Philip Gatch and Eeuhen Ellis 
appeared as messengers from the South, and pre- 
sented a letter. They were coldly received ; not a 
word of sympathy was uttered; there was every 
appearance of an entire separation. William Watters 
was the only man that treated them with affection 
and tenderness. According to Asbury the Confer- 
ence at first concluded to renounce them. Then he 
offered conditions of union : * ^ 1 . That they should or- 
dain no more. 2. That they should come no farther 
than Hanover circuit. 3. We would have our dele- 
gates in their Conference. 4. That they should not 
presume to administer the ordinances where there is 
a decent Episcopal minister. 5. To have a union 
Conference." A long debate followed; these pro^ 
posals failed. They then came back to their determi- 
nation to renounce the Southern preachers; *' al- 
though," says Asbury, ** it was like death to think 
of parting." 

In this painful state of things a thought struck 
Mm. He proposed a -suspension of the ordinances 
for one year. It was agreed to by both parties. 
Gatch and Ellis thought it would do no harm. As- 
bury, "Watters, and Garrettson, were appointed a 
committee to attend the Conference in Virginia. 

If th^ proposed suspension should be agreed to, 
then all the preachers were to meet at the next annual 
Conference at Baltimore. Asbury went on this mis- 
^sion with a heavy heart; he teared **the violence of 
a party of positive men." The committee met a re- 
ception quite different from that of Gatch and Ellis 
at Baltimore. "We found our brethren," says Wat- 



118 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ters, **a3 loving and as full of zeal as ever, and as 
fully determined on persevering in their newly adopted 
mode; for to all their former adjustments, they now 
added, what wdth many was infinitely stronger than 
all the arguments in the world, that the Lord ap- 
proved, and had blessed his own ordinances, by 
them administered the past year." When the Con- 
ference met, the committee stood back. They were 
invited in, and Asbury spoke. He read Wesley's 
thoughts on separation ; showed "Wesley's letters of 
instruction to him ; then read the sentiments of the 
Conferences in Delaw^are and at Baltimore; he also 
read other papers bearing on the question, and urged 
a peaceable settlement. They proposed to desist, if 
he would supply the circuits ; this he could not do. 
They then adjourned for preaching. Asbury's text 
was: **And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, 
and said unto the reapers. The Lord be with you, and 
they answered him. The Lord bless thee." He 
preached as though ** nothing had been the matter 
among the preachers or people." There was mutual 
pleasure and edification, and** some moving among 
the people." In the afternoon session they were far- 
ther apart than in the morning. Asbury thought 
there had been **some talking out of doors." The 
committee then withdrew and left the Conference to 
consider their conditions. In an hour they were 
called in; the answer was, ** We cannot submit to 
the terms of union." They withdrew from the 
house in great sorrow. ** I prepared to leave," says 
Asbury, ** under the heaviest cloud I ever felt in 
America. 0! what I felt! nor I alone! but the 



IN VIRGINIA. 119 

agents on both sides ! they wept like children, but they 
kept their opinions." His two associates labored with 
him most earnestly. 

"We had," says Watters, "a great deal of loving 
conversation, with many tears ; but I saw no bitter- 
ness, no shyness, no judging each other. We wept, 
and prayed, and sobbed, but neither would agree to 
the other's terms." Each believed he was acting for 
the best interests of the Church of God. They were 
divided in opinion, but they were one in the know- 
ledge and love of God. Two days were spent in 
fruitless efforts to heal the breach. Before they 
parted one last appeal was made to heaven. Asbury 
had been praying "as with a broken heart;" he 
rose from his knees and went to bid the Conference 
farewell. In the meanwhile, Garrettson and Watters 
had been wrestling with the Lord in a room directly 
over that in which the Conference was deliberating. 
When he entered he "found that they had come to 
an agreement. Great was the joy. Watters took 
the stand and preached on the words : * * Come thou 
with us, and we will do thee good." A love-feast 
followed, in which preachers and people wept, and 
prayed, and talked, until the spirit of re-union came 
down upon them like "the dew of Hermon that 
descended upon the mountains of Zion." " Surely," 
says Asbury, " the hand of God was greatly seen in 
all this." The terms of settlement were, that for 
the sake of peace, and to preserve the unity of Meth- 
odism, they should suspend the ordinances until Wes- 
ley could be consulted. The work of God had suf- 
fered in Virginia in the midst of the troubles 



120 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

which threatened the peace of the Church. The 
returns from the circuits showed a membership of 
5,928 ; a loss of 200 from the preceding year. 

Singularly enough, the records of this important 
Conference are omitted in the minutes, while those 
of the *' little meeting" in Delaware, in 1779, are 
inserted. There can be no question that the Con- 
ference at Manakintown had equal claims, to say 
the least, to be considered a legal Conference as that 
held at Baltimore. Dr. Lee plausibly supposes, 
*^thatasthe breach in the Church was healed in 
Virginia, it was mutually agreed to omit all mention 
in the minutes of the Conference at which it was 
eflected." 

After the close of the Conference, Asbury spent 
five months travelling and preaching in Virginia and 
ISTorth Carolina. He first reached Petersburg. Here 
he found religion on the decline. He feared the 
members were growing unholy. While resting he 
wrote to Wesley, giving him an account of the re- 
cent adjustment of the difficulties about ordinances. 
There is little doubt that "Wesley was at this time, 
approaching that decision which a few years afterwards 
gave to the world the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

From Petersburg, Asbury made a tour through the 
old battle-fields of Methodism, Brunswick, Sussex, 
Dinwiddle, &c. He preached at Nathaniel Lee's, to 
a small company, while a muster and cock-fight were 
going on not far off. He rode on to George Booth's 
who was a '* curious genius for a mechanic." At 
Nottoway church he met with Jarratt, who preached 
an excellent sel'mon, but ** was rather shackled with 



IN VIRGINIA. 121 

his notes." He preached at **the widow Heath's," 
where God moved upon the hearts of the people. 
There seemed to be a call for him in every part of 
the work. He was now travelling to keep peace and 
union. ** 0," says he, ** if a rent and separation had 
taken place, what work, what hurt to thousands of souls! 
It is now stopped, and if it had not it might have been my 
fault ; it may have been my fault that it took place ; 
but I felt a timidity that I could not get over ; 
preachers and people making the trial, they see the 
consequences, and I hope will do so no more. They 
have suffered for their forwardness. May we all be 
more prudent." 

He pushed on and came to the great preaching- 
house in Nansemond. It had been converted from a 
store-house into a church. He preached to three 
hundred people. They made a collection for him, but 
he refused to take it, lest they should say he came for 
money. There was a good prospect here ; nearly one 
hundred had joined the society. From county to 
county he passed, preaching in private houses, in chap- 
els, and barns ; these latter w^ere often the only preach- 
ing places possessed by the Methodists in some quarters. 
In this tour Asbury preached in ** Jones' barn," **Jar- 
ratt'sbarn," **"W"oolsey'sbarn," "Walker's barn," &c.; 
the meeting houses mentioned are, '^Mabry's," 
" White Oak," Merritt's," &c. Some of the names 
of those in whose houses this truly apostolic man 
preached the word of life may be interesting to those 
of their descendants who still survive. 

«* William Graves'," '' Wood Tucker's," "Kobert 
Jones," ^^ George Smith's," <^Gillum Booth's," *'Ben. 
10* 



122 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

jamiii Joiinson's," ** Mrs. Merritt's," ** Mark Crow- 
der's," were places honored by his presence and blessed 
by his preaching. 

It was during this tour, and in I^orth Carolina, that 
the first step was taken towards founding a Methodist 
institution of learning. At a ** Brother Bustion's," 
Asbury preached in company with John Dickins. 
"While resting a day or two from their toils, ** Dick- 
ins drew a subscription for a Kingswood school in 
America ; this was what came out a college in the 
subscription printed by Dr. Coke. Gabriel Long 
and Brother Bustion were the first subscribers, which 
I hope will be for the glory of God and the good of 
thousands." Asbury in a few bold strokes gives us a 
picture of Dickins. **He is a man of great piety, great 
skill in learning, drinks in Greek and Latin swiftly ; 
yet prays much, and walks close with God. He is a 
gloomy countryman of mine, and very difiident of 
himself. " The field over which he was now travelling 
seemed very inviting to Asbury. He says : *'I have 
thought if I had two horses and Harry (a colored 
man) to go with me and drive one and meet the black 
people, and to spend about six months in Virginia and 
the Carolinas, it would be attended with a blessing." 
His spirit was pained, however, at the utter neglect 
of religion in many places. The people seemed to 
be dead to spiritual things, while "their minds and 
mouths were full of the world." The congregations 
that met him were inattentive ; the troubles of the 
war filled their thoughts, and the seed fell on stony 
soil, or among briers and thorns, and but little fruit 
was brought to perfection. Hever had he met with 



IN VIRGINIA. 123 

greater difficnlties tlia.n on this tour, but his soul was 
kept in peace, and he labored on, " hoping for the 
greater blessing." 

Though unsurpassed in any age of the Church for 
piety and zeal, a genial humor marked the character 
of Asbury. He says : ** I was condemned for telling 
humorous anecdotes, and knew not whether it was 
guilt or fear, lest my friends should think I go beyond 
the bounds of prudent liberty." 

Scarcely a day passed during his progress that As- 
bury was not preaching, meeting the classes, urgiDg 
the leading laymen to pray and labor for the unity 
and peace of the Church, writing letters to distant 
preachers, or storing his mind with knowledge from 
good books. "With a feeble frame, he boldly pressed 
on over rocks, hills, creeks and rivers, through path- 
less woods and marshy lowlands ; he forced his way 
through thickets, twisting and bending the limbs and 
saplings aside, where no trace of a m.an was to be 
found. The people in many places were as wild as 
the deer in their forests ; sometimes he had to ride 
thirty miles for food and lodging. For miles as he rode 
along, he could see no house better than a rude log 
hut. The people were poor, and cruel to each other ; 
they came to the meetings, some drunk, others with 
guns in their hands ; some families were starving for 
want of bread, while many who had grain, distilled 
it into poisonous whiskey. He felt that he dwelt 
among ** briers, thorns and scorpions." 

But he went with the same message to the pohshed 
and the rude ; to him they were all sinners, needtng 
the touch of atoning blood to cleanse and renew them. 



124 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Besides his travels in Virginia, he passed through 
Cumberland, Chatham, Orange and Wake counties 
in N"orth Carolina. This was the roughest and most 
dangerous part of his tour. "What was it to him if 
the fare was coarse, his place of devotion **an old 
log shop," his church *^ a log house covered with long 
shingles, the sun beating through" in August, and 
^ve hundred people packed in and around it ? What 
was it to him if, after a ride of thirty miles, and 
preaching two or three times, he should find his rest- 
ing place ^*a cabin, an earthen floor, and a damp 
bed ?" The coarse fare he received with gratitude — • 
in the ** old log shop" he and his brethren prayed, 
*^and found their hearts sweetly united together" — 
in the **log house with the sun beating through," he 
washiest while he preached, ^^and the word went 
with power" — and, though on the floor of the cabin, 
the *^pain in his head" kept him from sleeping, his 
thoughts soared away to the land where a rest remain- 
eth for the people of God. What was it to him that 
he dragged a sickly body through a thousand miles ot 
travel — ^that now he was burning with a fever, and 
anon shaking with an ague, that for a week he would 
be so unwell as to make travelling a burden, and 
standing in the sun a few moments like scorching his 
brain— that he forded deep and dangerous water 
courses with ^*the horse covered all but his head, and 
the flood rushing angrily through the carriage "• — ^that 
he must **8wim the horses over Birche's Creek, and 
bring the carriage over the shattered bridge" — that 
he ^ould exclaim, " Ah ! what troubles have I passed 
through ! What sickness ! What temptations !" — ^that 



IN VIRGINIA. 125 

he should stand and preach an hour or 'more to four 
or five hundred people with a burning fever on him, 
and feel that he was ready to weep over them ? What 
were all these hardships to this great, good, this self- 
denying^ this truly apostolic man ? 

He was doing the work of God ; he felt safe in this 
work. ** Daily travelling and other labors will 
humble me." ** I am kept in resig- 
nation and faith, and praying that God may bless my 
labors, and bring peace and union among the Metho- 
dists in Virginia." Asbury came out of this cam- 
paign in a sad plight. A slow fever preyed upon 
him ; his clothes were torn and ragged ; his horses 
poor and jaded^ and his carriage broken, and patched 
and mended in divers places. His kind Virginia 
friends repaired his clothes, gave him a new suit of 
homespun, and again put him in a condition to resume 
his journey. 

This visit of Asbury to the circuits where the great- 
est excitement prevailed on the subject of the ordi- 
nances was attended with very favorable results. He 
calmed the minds of the more violent preachers and 
members, and diffused the spirit of his own exalted 
piety wherever he went ; they did not, however, lose 
sight of the fact that Wesley was to be written to, 
and urged to send them ministers who could admin- 
ister the holy sacraments. Accordingly, before Asbury 
left the State, he again wrote to Wesley on the sub- 
ject. ** The answer to this letter," says the editor of 
his journal, ** was made through Dr. Coke, Eichard 
Whatcoat, and Thomas Vasey, in 1784, who all came 
tO America properly ordained. " This writer presumes 



126 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

that "Wesley received few letters from America in 
■which the question of ordinances was not pressed upon 
his attention. 

Turning his face northward, Asbury passed on 
through Powhatan, Goochland, Fluvanna, Amherst 
and Albemarle. At Manakintown he preached to 
five hundred people ; thence he made his way to 
** Dukes, "in Goochland; here his travelling com- 
panion, Edward Bailey, fell sick ; still they toiled on 
and found rest at the house of Roger Thompson, in 
Fluvanna, where the famous ^* Broken-backed Con- 
ference" was held. We next find them in Amherst 
at ** brother Hopkins ;" here Bailey became too ill to 
travel further. Asbury left him in the care of kind 
friends, and pushed on to meet his appointments. 
He speaks of preaching at Maupin's and Frettwell's, 
in Albemarle ; at Henry Fry's, Roberts' and other 
places in Madison. Here he turned upon his track and 
returned to Fluvanna. At the Broken-backed Church 
he received the sad news of poor Bailey's death. A 
violent bilious fever took him ofi' in the strength of 
his days. His testimony to the goodness of God was 
clear and strong to the last. Weak and faint he would 
kneel in the bed and pray touchiugly and powerfully. 
His wife, children, and sister he commended to the 
care of his dear friend Asbury, and then fell asleep 
in Jesus. He was received on trial at the Leesburg 
Conference, and was the first preacher appointed to 
the Berkeley circuit. Having married, he followed 
the custom of that day, and ** desisted from trav- 
elling." Asbury met with him in l^orth Carolina 
and urged him to reenter the regular work ; he at 



IN VIRGINIA. 127 

once consented, and was on Ms way to a field of labor 
in the north, when he was arrested by the hand of 
death. Asbury deeply felt the loss of his friend, for 
their hearts were knit together in love. He says : 
**I travel very heavily now; I have lost my poor 
Bailey ; so suddenly called away ! If my affections 
were naturally tender, I should be bathed in tears, 
for I have great cause to weep. I am almost ready 
to say none shall ride with me hereafter." 

After a short journey through Hanover, preaching at 
the **widow Granger's," (properly Crenshaw) ^^Ground 
Squirrell," and other places, he crossed the Pamunky 
a little below the Court House, ** came to Parrett's, at 
Stafford Court House," where he paid eight Conti- 
nental dollars for supper and lodging, and thence by 
Dumfries, Colchester and Alexandria, to Georgetown, 
He had finished a tour of more than a thousand miles, 
and reached his friend Gough's in Maryland without 
a cent in his pocket. Mr. Gough and Mrs Chamier 
had given him three guineas and two half johannas" 
for the trip ; of this ** two guineas and a half, and a 
half crown went in Virginia." He gave them the 
gospel, and though they offered money, he refused it, 
and came away with the sweet consciousness of having 
labored successfully for Christ and his cause. Never 
was there a more unselfish bemg than Francis Asbury. 
The pure flame that burned in his heart consumed all 
dross and made the gold to reflect in a holy light, 
clear, distinct, the image of Christ. Looking back 
upon this arduous journey he says : *^ I am happy in 
the review of my labors ; in the reflection that my 
heart is i" ^'^'^ work of God ; and that it is not in 



128 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

vain." But still lie felt that if be had the wings of a 
dove he would, if the Master allowed, fly away and 
be at rest. Reposing after the last long ride of this 
tour, in the bosom of a Christian family, he writes : 
**I was blessed in the family I put up with. O, how 
sweet is rest! But 0, for eternal rest !" 



IN VIRGINIA. 129 



CHAPTER Y. 

Opening of the Slavery Question— Influence of Mr, "Wesley's 
opinions — Action of the Conference at Baltimore — The apple 
of discord thrown down— Conference of 1781 — Important mea- 
snres of Church economy adopted — The churches in Virginia — 
Desolations of War — Asbury again in the State — His descrip- 
tion of "Weyer's Cave — His incessant labors — Conference at 
Ellis' Meeting House — Final settlement of the question of Or- 
dinances — Method of equalizing quarterage receipts — Asbury 
chosen to preside over the Conferences — His travels in the cir- 
cuits — Conference of 1782 at Ellis' — Adjourned to meet at 
Baltimore — Action on slavery — Decided measures against intem- 
perance — Close of the "War — Spread of Methodism — Conference 
of 1784 — Arrival of Dr. Coke — Call for a General Conference, 

IF the Conference at Baltimore in 1780 was fortu- 
nate in proposing measures which closed the con- 
test about ordinances, it was equally unfortunate in 
opening another question that has been ever since 
a fruitful source of trouble. We refer to the ques- 
tion of slavery. This whole subject we should pass 
over in silence, but for its intimate connection with 
the progress of Methodism in Virginia. It is not 
difficult to mark the steps by which the early preachers 
reached a decision on this question. Although the 
first official action was had at this Conference, the 
leaven of anti-slavery had been working for years 
among the Methodists. The English preachers 
brought with them a zeal against slavery as one of 
the great evils of the age. It was but natural that 



130 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

they should infuse their opinions into the societies 
that grew up under their labors. Gradually, but 
firmly, the conviction grew that slavery was wrong. 
A powerful stimulant was applied by the publication 
of Wesley's ** Thoughts upon Slavery," in the year 
1774. This appeal, written in the strongest words of 
the language, painting, in the darkest colors, the hor- 
rors of the slave-trade, and the sufferings of the 
negroes in the West Indies, was scattered over Eng- 
land, and of course found its way to this country. It 
made a profound impression on the followers of Wes- 
ley. His was a voice they had ever heard with rev- 
erence. And now, when it was raised against a sys- 
tem which he proclaimed to be ''the vilest that ever 
saw the sun," they shuddered to think of the fearful 
responsibilities they incurred in sustaining such a sys- 
tem in their midst. This feeling of hostility to 
slavery was strongest in the northern circuits, among 
those preachers and members who had been more 
intimately associated with the English missionaries. 
But there were other causes that operated to bring 
the subject to an issue. The great revivals in the 
South had drawn thousands of slaveholders into the 
societies ; many of these, gifted and zealous, had 
been licensed as local preachers, and some were en- 
rolled in the ranks of the travelling preachers. Meth- 
odism at that time was gathering her richest harvests 
in the South, and it became a serious question whether 
she should quietly incorporate slavery into her eccle- 
siastical system, or arrest it at once by bold and 
prompt action. When men are considering one real 



IN VIRGINIA. 131 

or fancied grievance, it is easy to pass to the exami- 
nation of another. Nothing was more natural than 
for the Conference of 1780, at Baltimore, composed 
wholly of Northern preachers, to pass from, the ques- 
tion of ordinances to the question of slavery. 

The conclusions reached contained no absolute pro- 
hibition of slavery either on the part of the preachers 
or members. And yet it is almost certain that the 
Conference expected that its action should be regarded 
by the societies as a law on the subject. It was the 
custom to express all the more important decisions in 
the form of questions and answers. The question 
stated what the Conference deemed it right and pro- 
per to do ; the answer expressed the determination to 
do what was involved in the question as a duty, and 
was equivalent to a rule of action for all, preachers 
and people. 

The first question in reference to slavery was this: 
** Ought not this Conference to require those travel- 
ling preachers who hold slaves to give promise to set 
them free ?" This, according to the custom of that 
day, was regarded as binding the preachers jast as 
strongly as if the form had been, ** This Conference 
does require," &c. 

The question that bore especially upon the laity was 
so framed as to give in the clearest and strongest terms 
the Conference view of slavery. 

**Does this Conference acknowledge that slavery 
is contrary to the laws of God, man, and nature, and 
hurtful to society ; contrary to the dictates of con- 
science and pure religion, and doing that which we 



132 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

would not others should do to us and ours ? Do we 
pass our disapprobation on all our friends who keep 
slaves, and advise their freedom ?" 

**Yes." 

There is a marked difference in the questions as 
they refer respectively to the travelling preachers and 
**our friends," the laity. In one case the Con- 
ference ** requires," in the other it ** advises." 
After so formidable an indictment, who would 
have supposed that the action would close with 
the gentle word ** advise." Can any one divine 
a reason for this egregious discrepancy between 
premises and conclusion ? To the minds of the 
preachers the whole question must have been envi- 
roned with difficulties. They certainly were sincere 
men. , They believed in their hearts that slavery was 
a great wrong. In their own ranks they struck at it 
boldly. A requisition was laid upon every travelling 
preacher who was connected with it to free himself from 
it. But the membership they must approach more cau- 
tiously. A picture was drawn that should startle 
every one that looked upon it. The strong disappro- 
bation of the spiritual guides of Methodism was 
stamped upon an institution, which, in their opinion, 
violated every law of God, man, and nature. Thus 
the whole moral power of the Conference was cast 
against slavery. It was put under ban as a thing in 
the highest degree odious in the sight of God. It is 
morally certain that the Conference would not have 
been satisfied with merely giving advice in respect to 
slavery as defined by them, unless there had been 
a clear conviction that mandatory measures would 



IN VIRGINIA. 133 

meet witli strong opposition from tbe people. But 
even in advisory action they overshot the mark. 
Thoughtful men could not fail to see that if they were 
involved in so great a sin as the Conference had made 
slavery by their indictments, they were utterly un- 
worthy of a place in the Church of God ; nay, that 
they merited his heaviest displeasure, and must sink 
under his curse. They could not believe that the 
simple relation of master and slave carried along with 
it such fearful results. Irritation and strife were the 
legitimate fruits of this unwise action. The people 
felt that the preachers had transcended the limits of 
ministerial authority, in presuming to pronounce judg- 
ment on an institution established and guarded by 
constitutional authority. 

Jesse Lee assures us, that * * the preachers in this 
case went too far in their censures; and their language, 
in their resolves, was calculated to irritate the minds 
of the people, and by no means calculated to convince 
them of their errors." The action of the Conference, 
however, had its influence with many persons. In 
the memoir of Philip Gatch the form of his deed of 
emancipation has been preserved. He was living at 
the time in Powhatan county ; and with two or three 
of his neighbors, determined to free his slaves. The 
deed runs thus : 

** Know all men by these presents, that I, Philip 
Gatch, of Powhatan county, do believe that all men 
are by nature equally free ; and from a clear convic- 
tion of the injustice of depriving my fellow creatures 
of their natural rights, do hereby emancipate, or set 
free, the following persons," &c. The names of nine 
11* 



134 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

slaves then follow ; the deed was executed iu Decem- 
ber 1780. The form is, perhaps, the usual one adopted 
by the Methodists of that day. 

The apple of discord was thrown between the ]S"orth 
and the South by the action of this Conference ; and 
a conflict inaugurated, which sixty-four years after- 
w^ards, reached its disastrous issTie in the division of 
the Church. Happy had it been for Methodism, had 
the fathers never touched the question of slavery. 

Other measures of less importance were adopted at 
this Conference. The preachers were to see that all 
meeting houses were properly settled on trustees, and 
deeds for the same recorded ; every preacher was to 
have a written license from the Conference signed by 
Asbury ; every local preacher and exhorter was to 
have his license renewed quarterly," and to be exam- 
ined by the assistant with respect to his life, his qual- 
ification, and reception ;" all preachers were to make 
it a matter of conscience to rise at four or ^ve o'clock, 
and it was declared to be a shame for a preacher to 
be in bed at six in the morning ; preachers' wives 
were to receive the same amount of quarterage as 
their husbands, if they stood in need ; the practice oi 
distilling grain into liquor was reprobated, and those 
who persisted in it were to be disowned as Methodists ; 
the preachers were to meet the colored people in classes, 
and in their absence were to appoint proper white 
leaders, '' and not suffer them to stay late and meet 
by themselves." 

There are no records of extensive revivals in Vir- 
ginia during the years 1779 and 1780. The war was 
fiercely raging in the South ; the country was filled 



IN VIRGINIA. 135 

with alarms and the marching and counter-marching 
of armed men, kept the people in a constant state of 
excitement. 

There were gracious visitations, however, in some 
localities. Gatch mentions a revival of much interest 
in Powhatan county. It was felt with power among 
Methodists ^nd Baptists. The ranks of the itiner- 
ancy received several valuable accessions from this 
work. Daniel Asbury, Lewis Chastain, Richard 
Pope, Bennett Maxey and Daniel Lockett, from the 
same neighborhood in Powhatan, joined the Con- 
ference. 

The name of Henry Ogburn appears on the min- 
utes of 1779 as received on trial ; but it is not found 
among the preachers stationed that year. There was 
probably an over supply and he was left without an 
appointment, to be called into service whenever needed. 
Ogburn was born in Mecklenburg county, and was con- 
verted in the great revival of 1776. He labored with 
great zeal and success for ten years as an itinerant. 
He was sent as a pioneer to the Kentucky circuit, and 
amid savage tribes he planted Methodism, preaching 
to the hardy settlers in their '^ stations," or little forts, 
and sowing seed from which rose the Methodist Church 
in Kentucky. 

Among the settlers at '* Kenton's Station" were 
Thomas and Sarah Stevenson, parents of Dr. Steven- 
son, widely known as our former book agent. In 
their humble cabin the missionary found a home, and 
there was formed the first Methodist Society in Ken- 
tucky. Ogburn spent several years in Western Vir- 
ginia, and his preaching was signally blessed. 



136 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

In Botetourt there was a powerful revival. Among 
the converts was Edward Mitchel, a leading man in 
that portion of the State. He became a local preacher, 
and for many years blessed the Church with his labors. 
Ogburn, having married, located in the year 1790, 
and finally settled in Kentucky. He sustained the 
character of a faithful and zealous local preacher until 
his death, in 1831. 

The Conference for 1781 was held at Baltimore. 
The whole number of members reported was 10,539. 
Of this number 6,232 were in the South ; in Virginia 
3,239, in Forth Carolina 1,993. The increase for 
the year was 2,035. This was almost wholly in the 
l^orth ; there was a small decrease in the South, owing 
to the war, which disturbed the societies, interrupted 
the regular preaching, and drew many of the mem- 
bers into the ranks of the army. Isle of Wight was 
the only circuit added in Virginia. Several impor- 
tant measures were passed at this Conference. Per- 
sons were to remain on trial three months, before 
they could be admitted as regular members. This is 
the first reference to this subject in the minutes. 
Expelled members who sought re-admission, must 
first give satisfactory proof of their repentance, and 
be recommended by the society. Preachers were re- 
quired often to read the Rules of the Societies, the 
Character of a Methodist and the Plain Account of 
Christian Perfection ; the preachers were also required 
to give a circumstantial account of their circuits in 
writing, both of societies and local preachers, with a 
plan to their successors ; they were to inform the so- 
cieties of the amounts needed for quarterage, and to 



IN VIRGINIA. 137 

urge tliem to give liberally. For the first time a rule 
was adopted for settling business disputes. ^*Let the 
assistant preacher at quarterly meeting consult with 
the steward in appointing proper persons to examine 
into the circumstances, and if there be any suspicion 
of injustice or inability in the referees, to appoint 
men of more skill and probity, and the parties to 
abide by their decision, or be excluded the society." 
The Conference recommended four general fast days 
to be observed by all the societies on the first Thurs- 
days in June, September, January and April, '^me* 
teen preachers were sent to Virginia. 

The year that followed this Conference was marked 
by few revivals in the South. There were tokens for 
good in some parts of Virginia and I^orth Carolina, 
but nothing like a general work. The storm of war 
was sweeping up to Virginia from the South. Phil- 
lips and Arnold were already in the heart of the State, 
scattering terror wherever they moved. The preach- 
ers found it dangerous to travel their circuits ; many 
of the societies were entirely broken up, and others 
prevented from holding regular meetings. Large 
numbers of Methodists were drafted for service in the 
militia. Of these some fell in battle, others were 
corrupted by camp life, and made shipwreck of faith ; 
few came back with their garments unspotted. Some 
of the Methodists declared themselves non-combat- 
ants on conscientious grounds. They would neither 
fight themselves nor hire substitutes. They were 
whipped, fined, imprisoned, but they firmly stood out 
against shedding blood. However we may condemn 
their principles, we must admire the firmness which 



138 MEMO lALS OF METHODISM 

they displayed in refusing to do what they believed to 
be wrong. 

The churches suffered heavy losses in the midst of 
these troubles. There was every thing to discourage 
Christians, and but little to animate them. The Vir- 
ginia societies endured the heaviest trials. Many 
battles were fought in the State. The people were in 
a constant state of alarm. Religious worship was 
irregular ; and when the societies did meet, the absorb- 
ing topic was the war. Scenes of the most painful 
character were often witnessed at the meetings. One 
would hear that his father had been killed ; a father 
that his son had fallen, or was a prisoner in the hands 
of the enemy — a wife would wrin^ her hands in an- 
guish on learning that her husband was wounded and 
in the camp ready to die. Sore and great were these 
afliictions ; the infant church was in the midst of the 
fire. Yet she stood firm, trusting in God, and pray- 
ing for deliverance. "When the storm swept away it 
was seen that the tree of Methodism, though torn 
and broken, had struck its roots deeper into the soil, 
and again budded and brought forth fruit. 

In the spring Asbury made another preaching tour 
in Virginia. Leaving Baltimore soon after the Con- 
ference closed, he passed through Fairfax, Loudoun, 
Fauquier, and then struck across the mountains, 
going as far west as Hampshire, the outposts of Meth- 
odism in that direction. The house of "William 
Adams' in Fairfax, was a favorite resting place. Asbury 
says he always came to it weary, but generally found 
refreshment for soul and body. Worthy representa- 
tives of this family are still to be found in that county. 



IN VIRGINIA* 139; 

He preached in the Court House at Leesburg, there 
being, probably, no Methodist church there at that 
time. Thence he rode to Eectortown, Fauquier, 
where he preached to ** an apparently unconcerned 
people." 

He found rest after battling with storms and floods 
for several days, at John Hite's, probably west of the 
Blue Eidge. At Martinsburg he preached, and re- 
turned to brother Bruce's, probably at or near Bruce- 
town ; he describes Bruce as a ** lily among thorns." 
Thence he pushed on to the west, haviug heard good 
tidings of the work on the South Branch. He now 
reached a country of *^ mountains and natural curi- 
osities." A long and weary ride brought him to a 
cabin late in the evening. Here he lay on a chest, 
with his clothes for covering, and ** slept pretty well." 
He passed the celebrated Hanging Eock, and has 
given a description of it in his journal : ** On my way 
to E. "Williams' I had a view of a hanging rock that 
appears like a castle wall, about three hundred feet 
high, and looks as if it had been built with square 
slate stones ; at first glance a traveller would be ready 
to fear it would fall on bim.' At "Williams' house 
he had a congregation of three hundred, ** but there 
were so many wicked whiskey driokers, who brought 
with them so much of the power of the devil, that he 
had but little satisfaction in preaching." He crossed 
the South Branch and went into the settlements on 
Patterson's Creek. Here the people were mostly 
Dutch, who loved preaching, but did not understand 
class-meetings. He longed for a missionary to them. 
** Could we get a Dutch preacher or two to travel 



140 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

with us, we should have a good work among the 
Dutch." These simple hearted people were ''kind 
in their way," and he felt a deep concern for their 
spiritual welfare. He was now within ten miles of 
the Alleghanies, and into that wild region some of 
the preachers were about to penetrate, ''seeking the 
outcasts of the people." Asbury found the spirit of 
persecution even in these quiet mountain vales. There 
was much talk of arresting some of the preachers ; 
but he feared not, and with unflinching courage cheered 
on his little band of heroes against the strongholds of 
the enemy. This was no pleasure trip among the 
mountains. He wondered at his health and strength, 
considering the fatigue he endured. Eiding in the 
rain, living on coarse, and often scanty fare, sleep- 
ing on chests, or on the cabin floors, with a blanket, 
or his own clothes for covering, preaching incessantly, 
and meeting the classes, climbing steep mountains, 
fording creeks and rivers, often at the hazard of his 
life ; such were the comforts he found in this wild 
mountainous region. Amid all these labors and dan- 
gers he was not insensible to the sublime scenery 
around him ; he had, indeed, a high appreciation of 
the grand and the beautiful, in the works of God. 
Crossing the Fork Mountain, and leading his horse 
when it was too steep to ride, he came to "a spring 
remarkable for its depth, and the quantity of water it 
discharges sufficient for a mill, two hundred yards 
from the source, which sometimes in freshets throws 
its mass of waters considerably above the ordinary 
level of the surface." He visited a cave which from 
the description must have been the celebrated "Weyer'S 



IN VIRGINIA. 141 

Cave, in Augusta county. ^*I rode a mile and a 
half to see some of the greatest natural curiosities 
my eyes ever beheld ; they were two caves, about two 
hundred yards from each other ; their entrances were 
narrow and descending, gradually widening towards 
the interior, and opening into lofty chambers, sup- 
ported to appearance, by basaltic pillars. In one of 
these I sung, 

'* Still out of the deepest abyss." 

The sound was wonderful. There were stalactites 
resembling the pipes of an organ, which, when our 
old guide, Father Ellsworth, struck with a stick, 
emitted a melodious sound, with variations according 
to their size ; walls, like our old churches ; resem- 
blances to the towers adjoining their belfries ; and 
the natural gallery which we ascended with difficulty ; 
all to me was new, solemn, and awfully grand. There 
were parts which he did not explore ; so deep, so 
damp, and near night. I came away filled with.won- 
der, with humble praise and adoration." The reader 
who has looked on these fantastic wonders, will not 
be surprised that Asbury should have been reminded 
of the grand old churches of his native land. 

In his mountainous journey, Asbury found here 
and there a little band of faithful souls ; but even on 
these fell the distresses of war. The only two men in 
the society at ^-Lost Elver," were drafted into the 
army. He prayed with them and gave them his 
blessing. The preaching had nothing like the effects 
he looked for among the rude people. Antinomiam 
preaching seemed to have hardened their hearts. But 
even these gloomy prospects did not banish hope from 



142 MEMOKIALS OF METHODISM 

his ardent mind. He Lad no doubt that a glorious 
gospel day would rise on this and every other part of 
America. Pushing on to the east, with a companion^ 
in order to reach a quarterly meeting, they found them- 
selves at night lost in the mountains. ** Eocks, and 
w^oods, and dangers, on all sides surrounding them/* 
To go on was impossible, so they tied their horses, 
wrapped themselves in their blankets, and lay down 
among the rocks. God gave them rest and the next 
day they reached the meeting. The resting places of 
Asbury had been little better than the bare ground 
during the whole time. *'Ihave been obliged," he 
says, ** to sleep on the floor every night since I slept 
in the mountains." He had been on ** this roughest 
of circuits" nearly two months. He closed this jour- 
ney at Leesbnrg, w^here he held a quarterly meetings 
and gave a brief account ^of the Methodists, repelling 
certain charges which had been alleged against them 
in that place. 

Having spent several months in Maryland, Penn- 
sylvania and Delaware, Asbury again turned his face 
southward, and in January, 1782, reached Yirghiia. 
From Leesburg he passed across the county to Han- 
over, and thence down toward Gloucester. He found 
the spirit of party still lingering among the people. 
The local preachers discussed the question of ordi- 
nances, *'and the people caught at them like fish at 
a bait." He thought they would yield when they 
learned that they must either give up their new plan, 
or be deprived of the travelling preachers. He be- 
lieved the last struggle on this question would be made 
at the approaching Conference. 



• IN VIRGINIA. 143 

He preached in Gloucester at tlie '' Old Church," 
** Stedham's," and other places. Mr. Stedham had 
been a man of the world, gay in his manners, and 
passionately fond of racing ; he had been converted 
under the ministry of Jarratt, and was now an hum- 
ble and devoted Christian. ''The old man wept," 
says Asbury, ''when I described the tenderness of a 
soul when first united to Christ." Crossing York 
Elver, Asbury passed through Williamsburg, where 
he found the churches converted into hospitals and 
barracks, and the houses pillaged and burnt, and 
rapidly made his way toward the strongholds of Meth- 
odism south of Petersburg. 

At the places where he held forth the word of life 
two years before, he again appears full of zeal and 
faith. He rested a day with his old friend Jarratt, 
and found him " as usual quite friendly." At White 
Oak, Ellis' Chapel, Lane's Chapel, Mabry's and 
Wookey's barn, he preached to large and eager con- 
gregations. He was again at the "great preaching 
house in I^ansemond," and spoke " with uncommon 
openings in his mind." The great revival he had ex- 
pected when here before had not been realized ; 
"evil speaking and other things had prevented" the 
seed from springing up. He found during this time 
that the "party-men," the advocates of the ordinances, 
were growling weak, and be felt sure that the discus- 
sions had taught preachers and people a lesson, and 
that they would cleave more closely to doctrine and 
discipline. He received from his old friend, J. Mabry, 
an account of the triumphant death of his daughter. 
" When at the point of death, the Lord cut short hia 



144 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

work in her soul, cleansing her heart ; she testified 
what God had done for her with great power ; her 
language was surprising to all who were present ; she 
appeared to be kept alive' one whole day almost mi- 
raculously ; her father said he thought the poioer of 
God teas so strong upon her, that she could not die.''^ It 
w^as mid winter and excessively cold, yet Asbury did 
not relax his labors. Through almost every circuit in 
the southern part of the State, and a portion of North 
Carolina, he travelled, watching over the societies, 
and encouraging and directing the preachers. The 
care of the churches came upon him daily. This 
burden he could not bear alone : *' I make it a rule," 
he says, *'to spend an hour, morning and evening, 
in meditation, and in prayer for all the circuits, socie- 
ties and preachers." His work was done in the 
midst of hardships that w^ould have driven many a 
man from the field. 

Speaking of his rides through the country lying on 
the Mehcrrin River, he says: **In this country I 
have to lodge half my nights in lofts, where light may 
he seen through a hundred places ; and the cold wind 
at the same time blowing through as many." But 
he bore it all with thankfulness ^* expecting ere long 
to have better entertainment — a heavenly and eternal 
rest." 

Asbury and his co-laborers were men mighty in the 
pulpit, because they were mighty in prayer. Their 
secret places were not in warm, cosy, carpeted rooms, 
but in the deep forests, with a carpet of green to 
kneel on in summer, and over head the umbra- 
geous boughs vocal with the songs of birds ; in the 



IN VIRGINIA. 145 

winter, they knelt, wrapped in their cloaks, on the 
frozen ground, at the root of some giant tree with 
its bare limbs and crisp leaves over head, or in the 
barn among the grain and straw, or in the chilly lofts 
in the stillness of night. Wherever they prayed 
God was with them. **This morning," writes As- 
bury, '* I pom-ed out my soul to God in the granary, 
and was refreshed in my spirit." From their knees 
to the pulpit was the rule of the fathers of the Church. 
They were kept in a "flame of love. "When they called 
upon the Lord he answered them. ^'1 always find 
the Lord present when I go to the throne of grace," 
says Asbm y ; * * I am filled with love from day to 
day. bless the Lord for the constant communion 
I enjoy with him!" Again, ^* I enjoy peace from 
morning to night ; was it only for what I feel that I 
travelled and preached, my labours to myself would 
not be lost, but I shall do good. God will not suffer 
the ivord he gives me to fall to the ground ; it will 
be blessed to preachers and people. Bless the Lord, 
my soul, and all that is within me, forever and 
ever I" Animated by such a spirit, and sustained by 
such a faith, to fail was impossible. 

On the 17th of April, 1782, Asbury met the South- 
ern preachers in conference at Ellis' Meeting House, 
in Sussex county. Jarratt ^vas present and opened 
the exercises with a profitable discourse on the four- 
teenth chapter of Hosea. This conference was a 
matter of convenience. The work had become so 
extensive that it was found impracticable for all the 
preachers to meet in one Conference at the IsTorth. 

The plan adopted was to hold a meeting in the South, 
12* 



146 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

go througli tlie regular routine of business, and then 
adjourn to meet in Conference at the Forth the ensu- 
ing month. The Southern Conference had full power 
to do all the business of a regular Conference, ^' ex- 
cept that of making or altering particular rules." 
** As the Conference in the Korth," says Jesse Lee, 
** was of the longest standing, and withal composed of 
the oldest preachers, it was allowed greater privileges 
than that in the South ; especially in making rules 
and forming regulations for the societies. Accord- 
ingly, when anything was agreed to in the Virginia 
Conference, and afterwards disapproved of in the Balti- 
more Conference^ it was dropped ; but if any rule was 
fixed and determined on at the Baltimore Conference 
the preachers in the South were under the necessity 
of abiding by it." The Southern preachers of course 
had a right to sit and vote in the E'orthern Confer- 
ence, and could there press the consideration of ques- 
tions that might come up for final action. 

As the printed minutes record the doings of the 
two Conferences for this year as one, we shall so con- 
sider them in our narrative. 

The number in Society was 11,785. In Virginia^ 
there were 3,368 members; the general increase was 
1,246, and chiefly in Maryland; in Virginia and 
North Carolina there was a loss of nearly 400 mem- 
bers. The Societies had not recovered from the 
effects of the war. 

One of the first questions before the Conference 
related to the administration of the ordinances. As- 
bury proposed that the preachers should sign a writ- 
ten agreement to adhere to the old plan. He strongly 



IN vmaiNiA. 14T 

urged it as a peace measure ; most of the preachers 
signed it; a few sturdy recusants held out. Kext 
morning they were subdued by a powerful sermon 
from Asbury, and every man but one put his name to 
the paper. They further agreed, in order to clear the 
vexed question entirely, to ''put the people out of 
Society when they receive, and the preachers when 
they administer the ordinances, if they have been 
previously warned." 

In view of the languishing state of the work, es- 
pecially in the South, the Conference deeply consid- 
ered the question : 

<* What can be done to revive the work ?" The 
answer was : *' Hold evening meetings and preach in 
the morning in convenient places." The success of 
morning meetings is a remarkable fact in the history 
of Wesleyan Methodism in England. There can be no 
doubt that Wesley was guided by a sound philosophy 
as well as by religious zeal in his rigid adherence to 
the plan of early preaching. Preachers and hearei^ 
were fresh and lively, and the truth fell upon the 
multitudes with a peculiar power. Convictions were 
deep and frequent, indeed, often overwhelming under 
the morning sermons of the early Methodist preachers; 
and those who had been sore wounded by the arrows 
of the Lord, during the day, often felt the healing 
balm applied while gathered with the Christians in 
the " evening meeting." 

The fathers of American Methodism wisely re-' 
solved to follow the same plan. 

A measure was adopted for equalizing the quarter- 
age receipts of the preachers. All gifts, whether of 



14:8 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

money or clothing, were to be valued by the preachers 
and stewards at quarterly meeting ; the value of each 
gift was estimated as so much quarterage ; and if a 
deficiency existed in any case after this valuation, it 
was to be made up to the preacher at Conference, 
from the profits on the sale of books, and from the 
yearly collections. 

It seems that this singular method of adjusting 
quarterage accounts, was cheerfully acquiesced in by 
the preachers. 

As a precautionary measure the Conference resolved 
to limit the authority of the preachers, by writing on 
every certificate : ' ' The authority which this conveys 
is limited to the next Conference.'^ This was done 
to protect the Societies against disorderly travelling 
preachers. They also adopted measures of protec- 
tion against disorderly local preachers. To each cer- 
tificate was appended : *' This conveys authority no 
longer than you walk uprightly and submit to the 
direction of the assistant preacher." We find in the 
minutes the first action in reference to certificates of 
membership. **Let no person remove from north to 
south, without a certificate from the assistant preacher; 
and let no one be received into Society without." 

The Conference unanimously chose Asbury to ^'act 
according to Wesley's original appointment, and pre- 
side over the American Conferences and the whole 
work." 

Every assistant was directed so to arrange his cir- 
cuit as that he or one of his helpers might travel with 
Asbury when he visited the circuit. A vote of 
thanks to Mr. Jarratt for his valuable aid to the Meth- 



IN VIRGINIA. 149 

odist Societies was passed by the Conference. '* The 
Conference acknowledge their obligations to the Rev. 
Mr. Jarratt for his kind and friendly services to the 
preachers and people from our first entrance into 
Virginia, and more particularly for attending our 
Conference in Sussex, in public and private : and ad- 
vise the preachers in the south to consult him and 
take his advice, in the absence of Brother Asbury." 
This Conference lasted but three days, about the 
usual time, at that period, and closed with a love-feast. 
** The power of God was manifested in a most extra- 
ordinary manner, preachers and people wept, believed, 
loved and obeyed." 

Twenty- two preachers were stationed in Virginia. 
!N"o new circuits were reported. The name of 
Berkeley was changed to South Branch. This circuit 
covered the rugged and mountainous district that 
stretched from the Blue Ridge, along the waters of 
the Potomac and its southern tributaries, as far west 
as the Alleghanies. It was the frontier of Metho- 
dism in Western Virginia. 

No sooner had the Conference closed than Asbury 
was again on the wing. The day after, he rode 
nearly fifty miles without eating or drinking. lie 
was bound northward, and felt pain at parting with 
his Virginia brethren as if he had left something val- 
uable behind him. His route lay through Dinwiddie, 
Amelia, Powhatan, Fluvanna, Amherst, Albemarle ; 
he rode usually between forty and fifty miles a day with- 
out eating more than one meal, and frequently none at 
all. He rested a few days with his old friend, Henry 
Fry, in Culpepper, and then pushed on to a quar- 



150 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

terly meeting in Fairfax. On his route he heard tlie 
" good news" that Britain had acknowledged the in- 
dependence of America. 

Having reached Baltimore, and finished the busi- 
ness of the I^orthern Conference, he again turned his 
face toward Virginia. Two days he preached at Lees- 
burg with poor effect, and ' * to little purpose. " He ex- 
claims, "God be merciful to these people !" From 
Leesburg he struck off to the west. He passed the 
gap of the mountain near where he slept in the woods 
the summer before, and rode twenty miles up the 
E"orth Eiver. 

He found the morals of the people but little im- 
proved since his former visit. "When he reached a 
resting place he found the people " hanging about 
their stink-pots of mulled whiskey." He and his 
travelling companions had generally to sleep on the 
floor in the same room wdth the family. ''This," 
says he, '' with the nightly disagreeables of bugs to 
annoy us, shows the necessity of crying to the Lord 
for patience." But he became in some sort accus- 
tomed to these things, and in the midst of them 
enjoyed peace of mind. In this trip he crossed Mill 
Creek mountain, w^alking and leading his horse ; he 
preached to three hundred people ' ' who worshipped 
by the side of a stream for want of a house." Thence 
he pushed on, crossed Nobbly Mountain, "stopped at 
its foot, ate a little bread, drank fine water, prayed and 
then went forward to Cressap's." He was at the foot 
of the AUeghanies. Through these wild mountains 
were scattered some of the lost sheep. Asbury 
pressed after them in the wilderness. "We were 



INYIRCINIA. 151 

riding till near ten o'clock np the Alleghany; the 
road was dreary ; the night was dark. I wanted rest 
and found it. We had nearly two hundred people to 
hear in this newly settled country. " He came down 
the mountain next day through a drenching rain, 
weary to faintness with fatigue, and his horse so weak 
from want of food that he fell with him twice. He 
writes : * ^ We have ridden sixty miles along incredi- 
bly bad roads, and our fare was not excellent. 0, 
what pay could induce a man to go through wet and 
dry, and fatigue and suffering as we do ! souls are our 
hire." Again after preaching on Sunday and riding 
forty miles up and down steep and rugged mountains, 
he writes : ^* I am sick and weary — ah ! how few are 
there who would not choose strangling rather than 
life and the labors we undergo, and the hardships and 
privations we are compelled to submit to ! Blessed 
be God, we have hope beyond the grave I" 

Though the preachers labored with great zeal, the 
prospects were not encouraging. At the close of this 
four, Asbury wrote : *'I am at times greatly concerned, 
that there are no visible movings and instantaneous 
conversions among the people." 

In December, he was again in Virginia. At the 
Old Church in King and Qaeen, he preached to a 
** wild and hardened people." He passed across the 
country preaching towards Williamsburg. Here he 
found that the seat of government had been removed 
to Richmond. **Thus," he writes, ^'the worldly glory 
is departed from it. As to Divine glory, it never 
had any." He preached in the Court House. The 
picture he draws of the ancient capital is a sad 



152 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

one: *^ The town has suffered, and is suffenng ; the 
palace, the barracks, and some good dwelling-houses 
burnt. The capitol is no great building, and is going 
to ruin ; the exterior of the College not splendid, and 
but few students ; the Bedlam-house is desolate, but 
whether because none are insane or all are equally mad, 
it might perhaps be difficult to tell." He left the 
place and rode for the * * great preaching house in 
Kansemond.'^ Here they had a solemn time. He 
passed throngh Suffolk, and found himself in the track 
of the war demon ; most of the houses were destroyed, 
or more or less injured.. He passed through Gates, 
Hertford, Bertie, and ^Northampton counties, Forth 
Carolina. In January he was with Jarratt, and they 
had a lively time at meeting. He preached at 
*' Woolsey's barn ; cold day, cold house, cold people." 
The state of religion in the fields where Methodism 
had won so many victories, was discouraging. From 
Holmes', in Mecklenburg, he writes : *'My soul 
mourns for the deadness of the people in our old cir- 
cuit." After attending a quarterly meeting in Meck- 
lenburg, and making a flying trip to Korth Carolina, 
he hastened across the country to Buckingham, to 
visit some who had left the Methodists on account of 
the ordinances. He found them a kind and tender 
people, and his spirit was refreshed among them. 
Passing through Fluvanna and Orange, making long 
rides and preaching almost every day, he returned to 
Petersburg, on bis way to the Conference in Sussex. 
On "Wednesday, May the 7th, the Conference 
began at Ellis' Chapel ; and after the usual busi- 
ness, adjourned to meet at Baltimore on the 27th 



IN VIRGINIA. 153 

of the same month. The whole number of mem- 
bers reported was 13,740. In Virginia, 3,649. 
The increase was, 1,955 ; more than half of this w^as 
in the South ; In Virginia nearly three hundred ; in 
North Carolina more than six hundred. Fourteen 
preachers were received on trial. Three * * desisted 
from travelling." Thirteen new circuits were added at 
this Conference, making the whole number thirty-nine. 
The additions in the South were, llolstein and Alle- 
ghany in Virginia, and Guilford, Caswell, Salisbury, 
Marsh, Bertie, and Pasquotank, in Korth Carolina. 
Norfolk reappears in the minutes. Eighty-three preach- 
ers supplied the entire w^ork ; of these, twenty-seven 
were stationed in Virginia, and sixteen in North Caro- 
lina. There was an increase of twenty-four preachers, 
and the whole field was well supplied with active 
laborers. A new plan was adopted at this Conference 
to provide for the wives of the preachers. Out of 
eighty-three preachers it appears there were only eleven 
married men ; or if more, only th"s number called 
on the Conference for assistance. The question was 
asked: '*Hotv many preachers' wives are to be pro- 
vided for ?" '* Eleven — sisters Forrest, Mair, "Wyatt, 
Thomas, Everett, Kimble, Ellis, Watters, Hagerty, 
Pigmian, Dickens." The sum of £206 was estimated 
as sufficient for the support of these holy and self-de- 
nying women. Only £20 were to be raised in Vir- 
ginia, i. e., Alleghany, 4 ; Berkeley, 6 ; Fairfax, 10. 
This was a novelty among the Methodists, and met the 
disapprobation of the leading laymen in some circuits. 
V^They thought it unreasonable," says Jesse Lee, *'that 
they should raise money for a woman they never saw, 



154 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and whose husband had never preached among them." 
'* But," adds the old historian, *Hhe Methodist cause 
is hut one in everyplace ; and he who loves his neigh- 
bor as himself, will feel for every circuit, every 
preacher and every preachers family." 

Jesse Lee, in his history, gives Cumberland as 
another new circuit added this year in Virginia ; but 
from the minutes it appears that Cumberland, Mary- 
land was intended ; the circuit may have embraced a 
strip of comitry on both sides of the Potomac ; but 
societies were reported only from ^' Old Town and 
Cumberland." 

The question of slavery came up again at this Con- 
ference. Three years had passed since the Confer- 
ence of 1780, and slavery w^as still in the Church, 
The advice then given had been but partially regarded. 
Many local preachers were slaveholders, and though 
they w^ere faithful, zealous, and useful men, this im- 
aginary blot on their ministerial character must be 
removed. The Conference asked the following ques- 
tion : ** What shall be done with our local preachers 
who hold slaves contrary to the laws which authorize 
their freedom in any of the United States?" 

The answer was : ^' We will try them another year. 
In the meantime let every assistant deal faithfully 
and plainly with every one, and report to the next 
Conference. It may then be necessary to suspend 
them." 

The Conference evidently still felt nervous on the 
subject. They were certainly desirous of freeing the 
ministry and the membership from slavery, and yet 
in theiraction they manifested a praiseworthy deference 



IN VIRGINIA. 155 

to public sentiment on the perplexing question. The 
laity were still left under the advisory action of 1780 ; 
the local preachers are now dealt with, but very ten- 
derly, and only in those States where emancipation 
was allowable. They were to be tried another year, 
(they had been on trial already three years,) they 
were to be labored with by the travelling preachers, 
and if found to be incorrigible at the ensuing Con- 
ference, it might be necessary to suspend them. We 
shall see how this repeated tampering with the ques- 
tion of slavery kept the societies in agitation, and 
seriously hindered the work of God. 

This Conference took strong ground against making, 
selling and drinking spirituous liquors. " Shall our 
friends be permitted to make spirituous liquors, 
sell, or drink them in drams?" '*J3y no means; 
we think it wrong in its nature and consequences ; 
and desire all our preachers to teach the people by 
precept and example to put away this evil." 

It is not to be supposed from this language that the 
Methodist preachers were even occasional dram drink- 
ers. ** It was but seldom known," says Jesse Lee, 
** that a Methodist preacher drank spirituous liquors, 
unless in cases of extreme necessity." 

To provide against the reception of unworthy per- 
sons who might emigrate from England, the Confer- 
ence decided to receive none without a letter of re- 
commendation, the truth of which they had no reason 
to doubt. Wesley endorsed the prudence of this 
measure in a letter to the American Societies, in the 
course of the same year ; in which he cautioned them 
against preachers coming from England or Ireland 



156 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

with out his recommendation. He thought the great- 
est danger to the work in America was " likely to 
arise either from preachers coming from Europe, or 
from such as might arise from among themselves, 
speaking perverse things, or bringing in among them 
new doctrines, particularly Calvinism." "Within a 
few years after the date of this letter the fears of 
Wesley were realized in the unhappy schism of 
O'Kelly and liis followers. 

The Conference did not omit to appoint two days 
of thanksgiving for the peace established between 
England and' the United States, for the temporal and 
spiritual welfare of the newborn nation, and for the 
glorious work of God. 

The close of the war opened the way of the preach- 
ers into every part of the land. The borders of Zion 
began to enlarge, and the sound of the gospel was 
heard for the first time in many places. In the frontier 
settlements the work grew apace. During the war 
many families, through fear or necessity, had removed 
into the wild lands of the West ; not a few of these 
had been Methodists in their old homes and now 
began to call earnestly for the preaching of the 
gospel from their former spiritual guides. The 
preachers gladly responded to the call, and w^ere re- 
ceived with open arms. ** Blessed is he that cometb 
in the name of the Lord," was often heard as the 
unmistakable saddle-bags-hero was descried making 
his way toward the cabin of some far off settler 
among the mountains. Old members were hunted 
up, classes formed, preaching places appointed, revi- 



IN VIRGINIA. 157 

vals began, and soon a circuit was formed from three 
to five hundred miles ronnd. 

To the honor of Methodism be it said, that it has. 
always marched in the front rank of emigration from 
the east to the west. Scarcely has the hardy pioneer 
nailed the last slab on his rude hut, before the 
preacher has entered to bless it by his prayers and to 
consecrate it to the service of God as a Bethel in the 
wilderness. 

The record of Asbury's travels in Virginia during 
this year is, with slight variations, but a repetition 
of his former labors and trials. A few weeks after 
the close of the Conference at Baltimore, we find him 
on the road to the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah. 
He seemed to have a passion for the hardest frontier 
work. He rode for several days together without a 
mouthful to eat except a small biscuit. ^* This," he 
WTites, " is hard work for man and horse ; but this, 
however, is not the worst, religion is greatly wanting 
in these parts. The inhabitants are much divided ; 
made up, as they are, of difierent nations, and speak- 
ing difterent languages, they agree in scarcely any- 
thing, except it be to sin against God." On this tour 
he preached, probably for the first time, to a few 
people in the town of Winchester. After spending 
a month or more in the Valley, he returned to the 
North. The last of November he was again on the 
banks of the Potomac ; it was near night and cold ; 
his companion was unwilling to cross, and they were 
compelled to pass the night in the house of a drunken 
landlord, ^* without fire, candle, or sapper." The 
next morning they crossed and came to Alexandria, 
13* 



158 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

where he preached in the Court House. Asbury took 
^ his old route through Prince William, Stafford, Caro- 
line, King William, King and Queen, Gloucester 
and James City. At "Williamsburg he preached on 
the steps of the Court House ; he believed that God 
would call out a people in that place. He passed 
through Portsmouth ; and hurried on to the lower 
circuits in I^^orth Carolina ; here he found the work 
reviving and scores of sinners returning to God. He 
was comforted, and took courage. 

The remainder of the winter he spent in the border 
counties of Yirginia and E'orth Carolina. In the 
spring he travelled through Powhatan, Cumberland 
and Buckingham. Here he found poor encourage- 
ment for religion. His soul was stirred within him 
as he looked on the heedless crowds that attended 
preaching, and he cried out ; "0 my Lord, arise for 
thine own glory, visit this people in mercy, and make 
known thy power in the salvation of poor sinners." 
Crossing James River, he preached in Amherst, Al- 
bemarle and Madison, closing the tour with a quar- 
terly meeting at Henry Fry's. The congregation was 
large ; a living power attended the word ; the love- 
feast was a season of great joy to the Christians, and 
all felt that the Lord was with them of a truth. 

The twelfth Conference met at Ellis' Chapel on 
the 30th of April, 1784 ; and ended at Baltimore on 
the 28th of the next month. '' It was considered as 
but one Conference," says Jesse Lee, ** although they 
m.et first in Yirginia, and then adjourned to Balti- 
more, where the business was finished." This Con- 
ference lasted but two days. Our business," saya 



IN VIRGINIA. 159 

Asbury, ^^was conducted with uncommon love and 
unity." Jarratt was present, preaching the word, 
and lending his wise counsel to the deliberations of 
the body. The returns showed the whole number of 
members to be 14,988. Of these 4,453 were in Vir- 
ginia. The increase for the year was 1,248 ; of this 
only 81 was the gain in the Northern circuits, while 
in the Southern it was 1,167. E"early the whole of 
this increase was in I^orth Carolina ; there was a de- 
crease in the Virginia circuits of nearly 200. 

Eleven preachers were admitted on trial ; four 
located ; two had died. Before this Conference no 
notice had been taken of those preachers who died 
in the work. 

From about this time begin to appear in the Min- 
utes those brief, but expressive obituaries, supposed 
to be from the pen of Asbury. Of the two that fell 
in the field this year it is simply stated in the Min- 
utes that they died. Of one of them, Henry Metcalf, 
who was a man of great faith and devotion, it is said 
that when he found his end approaching, he rose from 
his bed, and died upon his knees in prayer. 

Forty-six circuits were reported in the whole work ; 
eighty-three preachers were stationed ; twenty-three 
supplied the widening fields in Virginia, and twenty- 
one in Korth Carolina. Bedford, Amherst, Orange, 
Richmond, Hampton, and Accomac appear on the 
Minutes as new circuits in Virginia, and Wilmington 
was added in Korth Carolina. 

The attention of the Conference was turned toward 
the erection of new chapels, and the liquidation of 
debts on those akeady built. The preachers were 



160 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

directed to take np collections for this purpose in all 
the circuits, and to insist that every member who was 
not supported by charity, should give something. 
For the first time a question appears in reference to 
superfluity in dress. 

'' How shall we prevent superfluity in dress among 
our people ?" 

" Let the preachers carefully avoid every thing of 
this kind in themselves, and speak frequently and 
faithfully against it in all our societies." 

The question of slavery was again brought up. 
*^ What shall we do with our friends that will buy 
and sell slaves ?" 

"If they buy with no other design than to hold 
them as slaves, and have been previously warned, 
they shall be expelled, and permitted to sell on no 
consideration." 

" What shall we do with our local preachers who 
will not emancipate their slaves, in the States where 
the laws admit it ?" 

"Try those in Virginia another year, and suspend 
the preachers in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania 
and New Jersey." The rule of the previous year 
had accomplished but little, even in the northern 
portion of the work where the anti-slavery sentiment 
was supposed to be very decided. 

The Conference could no longer brook such con- 
tumacy among the local preachers. The act of sus- 
pension was passed against all north of Virginia ; 
here they were allowed another year to consider the 
matter, making four years of probation since the 
first slavery action in 1780 ; surely, the Virginia lo- 



IN VIRGINIA. 161 

<;al preachers must have been regarded as stupidly 
ignorant or incorrigibly perverse on this subject ; 
and yet they were zealous and useful men, almost 
rivaling the travelling preachers in labors and sacri- 
fices for the cause of God. Their great fault was 
mastership over a race, never so happy, contented 
and thrifty, as when under the control of the white 
man. 

ITotwithstanding all the previous efforts of the 
Conference to free the itinerancy from slavery, it 
still lingered there. *' What shall be done with our 
travelling preachers that now are, or hereafter shall 
be, possessed of slaves, and refuse to manumit them 
where the law permits ?" The reply was brief and 
emphatic. *' Employ them no more." And yet it 
seems that in those States where the laws did not per- 
mit emancipation the travelling preachers might hold 
slaves, but almost the whole moral power of the Con- 
ference was turned against them ; and this, perhaps 
more than any enactment, induced them to rid them- 
selves of the supposed evil. 

The pecuniary wants of the preachers, who were 
thoroughly worked, but poorly paid, induced the 
Conference to make an order for a public collection 
in all the principle places in the circuits to meet the 
wants of those who were reported deficient at the 
Annual Conference. This is the first recorded action 
in reference to the Conference collections, that we 
find in the Minutes. It had, liowever, been the prac- 
tice to take up such collection ; these, with the pro- 
fits on the sale of books, served to give the deficient 
preachers a scanty supply of means. 



162 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Thirteen preacliers' wives were to be provided for ; 
the whole amount judged necessary to meet their 
wants was £302. Of this sum £72 pounds were as- 
sessed to circuits in Virginia, and £8, in Korth Car- 
olina, i. e. Fairfax, 20 ; Brunswick, 10 ; Sussex, 10; 
Amelia, 10 ; Mecklenburg, 8 ; IN'ansemond, 7 ; 
Portsmouth, 7 ; Camden, 6 ; Bertie, 2. This money 
was to be collected and paid quarterly. 

The allowance of the General Assistant was fixed 
at £24, " with his expenses -for horses and travelling 
brought to and paid at Conference." There is no 
allusion to the allowance of the travelling preachers 
from 1778, when it was fixed at ''Eight Pounds, 
Virginia Currency," to the Christmas Conference of 
1784, at which the Church was organized, when it 
was raised to " Twenty-five pounds (Pennsylvania 
currency) and no more." 

The Conference found it necessary to guard the 
societies against the intrusion of emigrant English 
preachers. " If they are recommended by Mr. "Wes- 
ley, will be subject to the American Conference, 
preach the doctrine taught in the four volumes of 
Sermons, and l^otes on the New Testament, keep the 
circuits they are appointed to, follow the directions of 
the London and American Minutes, and be subject 
to Francis Asbury, as General Assistant, while he 
stands approved by Mr. Wesley and the Conference, 
we will receive them; but if they walk contrary to the 
above directions, no aTicient right or appointment 
shall prevent their being excluded from our con- 
nection. 

The fathers of Methodism placed full value on the 



IN VIRGINIA. 163 

*• Songs of Zion." The lyrical element they knew 
to be one of great power in all religious movements , 
and fearing that in their Societies, in times of great 
excitement, it might degenerate into paltry ballads 
and jingling rhymes, they attempted at this Confer- 
ence to reform Methodist singing. The directions 
they laid down are brief, but complete. 

''Let all our preachers who have any knowledge 
in the notes, improve it by learning to sing true them- 
selves, and keeping close to Mr. Wesley's tunes and 
hymns." The Scriptural Psalmody of Methodism 
has contributed vastly to its success. Indeed, it may 
be questioned whether it would have moved on with 
so great rapidity and power in England and America, 
had not the poetical genius of Charles been allied 
with the clear, serene intellect^the extensive and varied 
learning, the calm, but powerful eloquence, and 
the preeminent legislative ability of John "Wesley. 
While one brother embraced every doctrine and duty 
and privilege of Christianity in his sermons and tracts 
scattered over the land, the otber enshrined them in 
strains of poetic grandeur that swept the whole field 
of Christian experience like an inspiration from 
heaven. 

Of the great poet of Methodism it has been well 
said : " Every important doctrine of Holy Scripture, 
every degree of spiritual experience, almost every 
shade of religious thought and feeling, and nearly 
every ordinary relation and incident of human life, 
are treated in his abundant and ever varying verse. 
No poet sui'passes him in the variety of his themes. 
Rarely can any man open his volumes without find- 



161 MmfORLiLS OF METHODISM 

mg something apposite to his own moods or wants. 
The whole soul of Charles Wesley was imbued with 
poetic genius. His thoughts seem to bask and revel 
in rhythm. The variety of his meters (said to be un- 
equalled by any English writer^ whatever) shows how 
impulsive were his poetical emotions, and how won- 
derful his facility in their spontaneous and varied 
utterance. In the Wesleyan Hymn Book alone they 
amount to at least twenty-six, and others are found 
in his other productions. They march at times like 
lengthened processions with solemn grandeur, they 
sweep at other times like chariots of fire through the 
heavens, they are broken like the sobs of grief at the 
grave-side, play like the joyful affections of child- 
hood at the hearth, or shout like victors in the fray 
of the battle-field." Such were the songs that re- 
sounded in the march of Methodism through* the Old 
and through the 'New World. There were stirring 
peals that nerved the hosts of Israel for the battle ; 
there were plaintive strains that took the form of 
prayer when the slain of the Lord lay around, there 
were exulting shouts of joy and victory that broke 
forth as the dead rose to life ; there were sweet and 
soothing melodies for the bedside of sickness, there 
were triumphant hymns that wafted the soul of the 
departing saint across the dark river to the company 
of angels, and the just made perfect. 

Next to their Bibles, the early preachers studied their 
Hymn Books, and many a shaft of truth was pointed 
with some apt quotation from the noble efiTusions 
of Charles Wesley. Their long and lonely rides were 
enlivened by his rich and varied airs ; and whether 



IN VIRGINIA. 165 

they rested in tlie cabins of poverty or the mansions 
of wealth, some appropriate h^nun, sung in hearty 
strains, formed a part of family worship. It is 
to be lamented that the voice of song is now 
so seldom heard in social worship. Except with a 
few older preachers, the hymn of praise is entirely 
omitted. 

This Conference recalled the attention of the So- 
cieties to the much neglected duty of fasting. On 
every class-paper was to be written, *' Observe the 
first Friday after every quarterly meeting as a 
day of fasting." It was afterwards changed to 
the Friday before each quarterly meeting. With 
scrupulous care this used to be written on every 
class-book when transcribed by the preacher. 

Such were the most important actions of this Con- 
ference. The year that followed was marked by suc- 
cess chiefly in the frontier portions of the work. The 
pioneer preacher pressed after the pioneer settler, and 
religion spread rapidly along the borders of the sav- 
age wilderness. 

"The call of the people was great for more labor- 
ers to be sent into the harvest." 

Asbury, the great leader, heard the call, and 
planned an expedition into the pathless wilds of the 
West. He had never before gone in that direction 
beyond the limits of South Branch circuit, he now 
determined to visit the rugged but romantic country 
bordering on Cheat River. Resting for a few days 
at "Sister Boydstone's, one of the kindest women in 
Virginia," where " all things were comfortable," and 
where he "was refreshed in soul and body," he left 

1A 



166 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Shepherdstowii for the Cheat Eiver Eegion. Two 
weeKs travel brought him to the frontier. He writes: 
*' We passed the Little Meadows, keeping the route 
of Braddock's road for about twenty-two ntiles along 
a rough pathway ; arriving at a small house, and 
halting for the night, we had literally to lie as thick as 
three in a Led. My soul has peace.- For three days 
I have had a fever ; the excessive labor I have under- 
gone may have nourished it. When I rose yesterday 
morning I was very unwell. After riding about seven 
miles, I Avas taken with a trembling and perspiration, 
I ate something and felt better, and my fever is now 
abated. Mj soul has been blessed in an uncommon 
degree ; and thou, my soul, bless the Lord ; and 0, 
that he may be pleassed to make me a blessing to the 
people in this part of the world !" lie preached to 
the hardy settlers in those wild regions and felt sure 
that God w^oiild g'ather a people among them. He 
crossed into Pennsylvania, preaching almost every day 
in cabins or under the trees, wherever the people 
gathered to hear him. 

Li the fall of the year, Asbury visited a part of 
Virginia he had never seen before, where Methodism 
was just taking root, and where it has since brought 
forth abundant fruit. We refer to the lower portion 
of the Nortliern Neck. The following extract from 
his journal gives his view of the people and the 
country : "The Presbyterians came down here about 
thirty years ?go ; many were moved and some ad- 
vances made towards a reformation. A house was 
built for public worship. About six years past, the 
Baptists visited these parts, and there was some stir 



IN VIRGINIA. 167 

among tlie people. I tliink tlie Methodists are most 
likely to have permanent success, because the inhabi- 
tants are generally Episcopalians. We preached 
sometime before any regular circait was formed, or 
any people had joined us ; now brother Willis is sta- 
tioned here, and there are one hundred in Society. 
The land here is low and level, and is refreshed with the 
breezes from the sea ; there is an abundance in the 
productions of the earth and of the waters ; the people 
are generous, social, and polished in their manners." 
Those who are acquainted with that portion of our 
State will recognize the truthfulness of this pictar:. 

Re-crossing the Bay, Asbury soon after met with 
Dr. Coke and Richard Whatcoat, at Barratt's chapel 
in Delaware. Having had no conversation with them 
before service, he was surprised to see Whatcoat as- 
sist in the administration of the sacrament. He 
writes: '^I was shocked when first informed of the 
intention of these, my brethren, in coming to this 
country ; it may be of God. My answer then was, 
if the preachers unanimously choose me, I shall not 
act in the capacity I have hitherto done by Mr. Wes- 
ley's appointment. The design of organizing the 
Methodists into an Independent Episcopal Church, 
was opened to the preachers present, and it was agreed 
to call a general Conference, to meet at Baltimore 
the ensuing Christmas ; as also that brother Garrett- 
son go off to Virginia to give notice thereof to our 
brethren in the South." 

Wliile the Christmas Conference is eno-aored in the 
work of framing an * 'Independent Episcopal Church," 
let us turn to some of those heroes of Methodismy 
that wrought wonders in their day. 



168 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER VI. 

American Methodist preachers— John Easter — His parentage — 
His entrance upon the regular work — Extraordinary success — 
Thrilling scenes under his preaching— Failure of health — His 
death — Philip Bruce — His early life — Incidents during the Revo- 
lutionary war — Personal appearance and character as a preacher 
— Interesting incident— Jesse Lee — His conversion — Call to 
preach — In the Army — Refuses to bear arms — Labors among the 
soldiers — Attends a Conference — Impressions — Becomes an 
Itinerant— Laborers in the South — Sent to New England — Trials 
and triumphs— Anecdotes — Personal appearance — View of his 
character. 

A GRAPHIC description of American Methodist 
preacliers, as a class, by the latest and most accom- 
pllslied historian of Methodism, will serve as an m- 
troduction to the sketches we propose to give in this 
chapter. **The usual process of a long preparatory 
training for the ministry could not consist with the 
rapidly increasing wants of the country. Methodism 
called into existence a ministry less trained, but not 
less efficient ; possessing in a surprising degree that 
sterling good sense and manly energy, examples ot 
which great exigencies always produce among the 
common people. These it imbued with its own ener- 
getic spirit, and formed them to a standard of charac- 
ter altogether unique in the annals of the modern 
Christian ministry. They composed a class which, 
perhaps, will never be seen again. They were dis- 



IN VIRGINIA. 169 

tinguished by native mental vigor, shrewdness, extra- 
ordinary knowledge of human nature, many of them 
by overwhelming natural eloquence, the effects of 
which on popular assemblies are scarcely paralleled in 
the history of ancient or modem oratory, and not a 
few by powers of satire and wit, which made the 
gainsay er cower before them. To these intellectual 
attributes they added great excellencies of the heart, 
a zeal which only burned more fervently where that 
of ordinary men would have grown faint, a courage 
that exulted in perils, a generosity which knew no 
bounds, and left most of them in want in their latter 
days, a forbearance and co-operation with each other 
which are seldom found in large bodies, an entire 
devotion to one work, and, withal, a simplicity of 
character which extended even to their manners and 
their apparel. They were likewise characterized by 
rare physical abilities. They were mostly robust. 
The feats of labor and endurance which they per- 
formed in incessautly preaching in villages and cities, 
among slave huts and Indian wigwams ; in journey- 
ings, seldom interrupted by stress of weather ; in 
fording creeks, swimming rivers, sleeping in forests ; 
these, with the novel circumstances with which such 
a career frequently brought them in contact, offered 
examples of life and character which, in the hands 
of genius might be the materials of a new depart- 
ment of romantic literature. They were men who 
labored as if the judgment fires were about to break 
out in the world, and tim3 to end with their day. 
They were precisely the men whom the moral wants 
of the I^ew World, at the time demanded. The usual 



ITO M MORTALS OF METHODISM 

plan of local labor, limited to a single congregation 
or to a parish, was inadequate to the wants of Great 
Britain at this time, but much more so to those of 
the Kew World. The extraordinary scheme of an 
itinerant ministry met, in the only manner possible, 
the circumstances of the latter ; and the men described 
were the only characters who could have sustained 
that scheme amid the hardships of American life. "-^ 

Near the close of the Kevolution three men ap- 
peared in the ranks of Methodism whose labors and 
success as preachers of the gospel have rarely been 
surpassed in any age of the Church. These men 
were John Easter, Philip Bruce, and Jesse Lee ; each 
of whom merits a separate volume in which to record 
his labors, his sufferings, and his victories in the 
cause of Christ. Only the last named has received a 
tribute worthy of his noble deeds from the able pen 
of an accomplished kinsman, and a worthy successor 
in the ministerial office. 

John Easter was born, it is supposed, in Mecklen- 
burg county. His parents were among the earliest 
fruits of Methodism in that section of the State, and 
from them ^* Easter's Meeting House," one of the 
oldest preaching places in Mecklenburg circuit, took 
its name. Their house was the home of the early 
preachers, and two of their sons, John and Thomas, 
entered the itinerancy. The sons may have caught 
their flaming zeal from the example of their father, 
for he was a man full of faith and of the Holy 
Ghost. *'When I preached at Easter's in 1799," 
says Rev. James Patterson, himself a gospel pioneer, 
'* tlie good old man got his soul so fall of the love 



IN VIRGINIA. IT^I 

of God that it overflowed, and he praised God and 
shouted until his frail body could scarcely contain 
his enraptured spirit. His lamp was not only burn- 
ing, but was in a full blaze, his wings plumed, and 
nothing prevented him from soaring to the realms 
above, but the casket of dust which contained the 
immortal spirit." Trained by such a father, John 
Easter went forth with the dew of youth on his 
brow to toil for souls. Kever did a man work with 
greater zeal and with greater success. Ten years he 
went forth day and night, in all seasons, and in all 
places, calling sinners to repentance, and then with 
failing health and shattered constitution, he was com- 
pelled to leave the field in which he longed to live 
and die. Beyond all doubt, John Easter was the 
most powerful hortatory preacher of his day. His 
word was like a sharp sword piercing through flesh, 
and bones, and marrow. His faith was transcen- 
dant, his appeals irresistible, his prayers like talking 
with God face to face. He lived and moved in a 
flame of love. A heavenly fervor dwelt in his heart, 
breathed in his words, and beamed in his eyes. 
Plain, unletterel, simple in style, almost rude in 
speech, he yet spoke with an authority and power 
before which pride fell humbled, and wicked gain- 
sayei*3 cowered in the dust. He never failed to 
reach the deepest and strongest emotions of the soul, 
when addressing the people, and it was no unusual 
thing for scores and hundreds to fall down in the 
pangs of sudden and powerful conviction. 

The fragmentary traditions that have come down 
to us of the effects of his preaching and his faith 



172 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

almost exceed the bounds of belief. And yet they 
rest on the testimony of eye-witnesses, and must be 
received as true. Perhaps no man has ever been 
more signally honored of God as an instrument in 
the conversion of souls. On one of his circuits eigh- 
teen hundred members were added to the Church in 
a single year. Thousands w^ere brought to God 
under his ministry, and among them were some of 
the brightest lights of Methodism, both in the laity 
and in the ministry. 

William McKendree and Enoch George, two of 
the best and purest men that ever graced the annals 
of the Christian Church, were the spiritual children of 
John Easter. Had he done nothing more than give 
two such men to the Church of God, this would 
have been sufficient to embalm his memory in the 
hearts of all true Christians throughout all time. 

Many thrilling scenes under his preaching yet lin- 
ger among the people in those counties where he 
principally labored. A most extraordinary display of 
his faith was witnessed in Brunswick. At Merritt's 
Meeting House a quarterly meeting was in progress,and 
so vast was the concourse of people from many miles 
round, that the services w^ere conducted in a beauti- 
ful grove near the church. In the midst of the ex- 
ercises a heavy cloud arose, and swept rapidly on 
towards the place of worship. From the skirts of 
the grove the rain could be seen coming on across 
the fields. The people were in consternation ; no 
house could hold a third of the multitude, and they 
were about to scatter in all directions. Easter rose 
in the pulpit in the midst of the confusion. " Ereth- 



IN VIRGINIA. 173 

ren," cried lie at the top of his voice, ^* be still, while 
I call upon God to stay the clouds, till his word can 
be preached to perishing sinners." Arrested by his 
voice and manner, they stood between hope and fear. 
He kneeled down and offered a fervent prayer, that 
God would then stay the rain that his work might 
go on, and afterward send refreshing showers. While 
he prayed, the angry cloud, as it swiftly rolled up to- 
wards them, was seen to part asunder in the midst, 
pass on either side of the ground and to close again 
beyond, leaving a space several hundred yards in cir- 
cumference perfectly dry. The next morning a 
copious rain fell again, and the fields that had been 
left dry were well watered. It is needless to say that 
this visible answ^er to prayer filled the minds of the 
people with awe, and gave a great impulse to the 
work of God, 

He was a man who prayed, nothing doubting, and 
he infused his own spirit into the hearts of those to 
whom he preached. With him, to ask was to receive. 
To him God was always at hand ; * ' Ask and ye shall 
receive," was the promise he plead always at the 
mercy seat ; and he never plead in vain. 

He was present at a meeting with several other 
preachers. There was powerful and pointed preach- 
ing, but no visible efiect ; at the close of an earnest 
sermon Easter rose to conclude the services. He coolly 
directed his exhortation to the Christians present, and 
urged them to pray, with the assurance that he knew 
souls would be converted before the meeting closed. 
God en'dorsed the word of his servant ; and before 



174 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

they left the house several persons were powerfully 
converted. 

At another meeting, says one of his contemporaries, 
he rose after a fine, but apparently ineffectual sermon 
from James 'Kelly, and opened an exhortation with 
the positive declaration that seven persons would be 
converted before the meeting ended. * 'The pious part 
of the congregation were much alarmed, and thought 
his assertion bold and presumptuous. But he began 
to exhort, and the spirit of Elijah's God came upon 
him, and the people felt as if he had smitten them 
with the prophet's mantle ; great power fell on the 
congregation, and before the meeting closed more 
than seven souls were powerfully converted." 

The following marvellous account is fully authenti- 
cated. He was holding a meeting in the forest ; it 
was in the mid-day of his fame and power ; hundreds 
upon hundreds had gathered to hear the wonderful 
man. In the midst of his sermon, while all were 
hanging on his lips in breathless silence, suddenly a 
rushing sound as of a mighty wind smote the ears of 
the hearers. All eyes were instantly turned upward, 
but no storm had smitten the forest, not a twig, not 
a leaf stirred ; still the awful sound swept over and 
around them. Instantly, several hundred horses 
broke from their fastenings and rushed wildly in all 
directions through the woods. Hundreds of men and 
women fell flat on the ground struck dow^n by the 
mighty power of God. The cry of conviction that 
arose was appalling ; even the holiest Christians 
trembled in the presence of that mysterious sound. 
The work of conversion was as instantaneous as the 



m VIRGINIA. 175 

work of conviction, and many were the witnesses for 
Christ that arose in the midst of the awe struck mul- 
titude. The effects of this display of Di^n-ne power 
were great indeed on the minds of the- people far 
and near. The work spread like fire in dry stubble 
and hundreds were added to the church. The battle 
began in this woods meeting, and God seemed to say 
to the leader of the host of Israel as he 1 ad said to 
David : " "When thou shalt hear a sound of going in 
the tops of the mulberry trees, then thou shalt go out 
to battle ; for God is gone forth before thee, to smite 
the host of the Philistines." 

The excessive labors of Easter soon wore down his 
constitution, and he fell back into the local ranks. 
But here he burned with the same holy fire^ and 
toiled with the same unabated zeal. We have a letter 
from him to E.ev. Stith Mead, which gives a true 
picture of the man. It was written in 11^^ seven 
years after he located : 

" Very I>bar Brother. — ^I received your favor, 
and wish to be thankful that either God or man re- 
members me in love and mercy. For I am so useless 
that I am ready to wonder how it is that I am not 
laid aside as a brokea vessel — ^for broken indeed I am 
—a half martyr. First for souls, and second for 
bread; at best a poor, unworthy, unprofitable ser- 
vant. But I can yet rejoice that the Lord blesses 
your labors to the good of souls — may he bless you 
more and more in yom* return to Brunswick ; though 
we have been blessed in the labors and piety of our 
good brother, William Early. I greatly desire to be 



176 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

with you all at Conference, but the many afflictions 
of my family, and other occurrences render it almost 
impracticable. But you will have my poor prayers 
for the Great God to be present and powerful among 
you. My love to all that are willing to die for Christ 
and the truth, 

" Yours in the best of bonds, 

** John Easter." 

It, is sad to behold such a spirit struggling in fet- 
ters, a half martyr for souls, and for bread, longing 
to be at the Conference, and to go forth reaping in the 
great field of the world. This holy man fell a willing 
sacrifice to his zeal for Christ. Over exertion at a 
protracted meeting brought on a disease of the lungs, 
which quickly closed his mortal career. He died, it 
is supposed, within two years after the date of this 
letter, a full martyr for the faith. So far as we know, 
not even a stone marks the grave of this champion of 
the cross. But his record is on high, and thousands 
shall rise in the last day, and call him blessed. All 
around him shall spring up the seals of his ministry, 
for he sleeps in the field on which he won so many 
victories. 

He left a son who became a very useful local 
preacher, but finally left the church of his father, 
and took orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
He was the pastor of a congregation near Baltimore, 
for some time, and died in that city not many years 
ago. He left an only son, who was suddenly killed, 
and thus the line of that branch of the family become 
extinct. 



IN VIEGINIA. 177 

Ko man in his day was lield in higher esteem hy 
his brethren and co-laborers than John Easter. He 
was loved and reverenced by hundreds as their father 
in the gospel. ** I have heard Bishop McKendree," 
says the venerable Father Boohm, ** speak of him in 
the highest terms, and with filial affection, as a son 
reverences his father, as a man, and as a suc- 
cessful minister. I travelled over the ground where 
Mr. Easter formerly preached, and his name and 
works were still remembered. I conversed with a 
number who knew him personally and intimately, and 
they spoke of him with profound respect and ven- 
eration." 

"The facts which have come down to our times," 
says Dr. Lee, **of the almost miraculous labors of 
the Kev. John Easter, his strong faith, and his aston- 
ishing success, are far more surprising than any of 
those recorded in the days of the Son of Man. But 
we may not detail them. Yet respecting the charac- 
ter of the work, it ought to be said that convictions for 
sin were sadden and strong. The whole moral nature 
was wrought upon by deep and powerful emotions, 
that found expression in confession of sin and cries 
for mercy. And conversions were no less sudden and 
powerful. Supplications for pardon were quickly 
succeeded by songs of rejoicing and shouts of triumph. 

Many who came to the house of God careless and 
scojfing, returned clothed and in their right minds, 
with new joy in their hearts, and a new pathway 
for their feet. The change was wrought by the power 
of the Holy Ghost, and its genuineness received a 
thousand attestations, in the altered lives, persevering- 



1 78 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

fidelity, and increasing holiness of those who, in that 
gracious effusion of the Spirit, were brought from 
darkness into light, and from- the power of Satan 
unto God." 

The name of Philip Brace will ever hold a bright 
place in the annals of Methodism. He was born in 
North Carolina, near King's Mountain, December 25, 
1755. His grandfather was a French Prote?jtanty 
and fled to this country with the persecuted Hugue- 
nots. The family name was originally De Bruise, 
but was corrupted into Bruce by a Scotch teacher 
from whom Philip received his education. He was 
the first of his family that became a Methodist. 
"When he was quite a youth, the pioneer preachers 
reached the wild region of his home, and a powerful 
revival broke out under their preaching. Many 
were brought to God and among them was Philip 
Bruce. Then was kindled a flame that burned w4th 
increasing brightness for more than fifty years. His 
parents were the first fruits of his labors. One even- 
ing while sitting around the fire he began to speak to 
them on the subject of religion. While the boy 
talked his 'father began to tremble and weep ; his 
mother too, was deeply affected. Philip asked his father 
to pray with them. *'No," said the old man, in a 
trembhng voice, '*I cannot pray." He then turned 
to his mother who w^as by his side, bathed in tears, 
and asked her to pray, she said she could not, and 
urged him to do so. He knelt down and earnestly 
presented his aged and weeping parents at the Throne 
of Grace. The great deep of their hearts was broken 
up under the fervent appeals of their son; they became 



IN VIRGINIA. 179 

true seekers of salvation, soon found peace in believ- 
ing, and united with the Methodist Society. Philip 
was soon after licensed as an exhorter. Those days 
were the darkest of our revolutionary period, and 
toryism was rife in that part of the land. The Bruces 
were zealous E/Cpublicans, and none of them more so 
than 3^oung Philip. He had many narrow escapes 
from the halter and the bullet. One day as he was 
hunting wild turkeys in the woods a party of tories 
rushed upon him and made him prisoner ; they were 
about to hang him to the nearest tree, when, on exam- 
ining his pockets, they found his license as an exhorter. 
The captain immediately said it would never do to hang 
a priest, and ordered Mm to be released, with a warning 
never again to be caught shooting wild turkeys. Uaw^it- 
tingly they had set at liberty one of the best friends 
of the American cause, for Bruce had opportunities 
for collecting information respecting the designs and 
movements of the British, possessed by few in his 
neighborhood, and he never failed to make his know- 
ledge serviceable to the cause of freeilom. 

He was present at the battle of King s Mountain, 
but as he was looked upon as a sort of a chaplain, the 
officers would not allow him to go into the engagement, 
and he was left with the sick and baggage. While 
engaged in his duties as a circuit preacher, he was 
taken prisoner, sometimes by the British and some- 
times by the Americans, but never maltreated by 
either. 

On one occasion he was induced to preach to a 
band of tories whose captain had gone to procure 
arms. He did so, and actually persuaded them to 



180 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

disperse. When the captain returned with the arms 
he found no men, and on being told through whose 
influence his men had dispersed, he swore vengeance 
against Bruce. I^ot very long afterward, when he 
had preached at the house of a friend, up rode the 
captain with two of his men. Springing from his 
horse, he rushed to the porch where Bruce was quietly 
reading, and with horrid oaths presented his gun 
at his breast. Bruce caught the muzzle and a scuffle 
ensued. The captain, dropping his gun, drew his 
sword and made a tremendous cut at his head, but 
in its sweep the weapon struck the rafter of the 
porch. Just at this moment up rode three whigsj 
the two tories gave the alarm, and Bruce finding 
the captain willing to be off, pushed him down the 
steps, sprang into the house and shut the door. The 
three tories rode off in quick time one way, and the 
whigs as fast in another. As the captain passed 
the window, Bruce shouted, ** Good-bye, Cap- 
tain." In reply he swore he would kill him. A 
day or two after, Bruce reached his next appoint- 
ment, and although his horse had been put up, and 
the people had assembled for preaching, it was so 
solemnly impressed on his mind that it was his duty 
to leave the place immediately, that, notwithstaiiding 
the earnest remonstrance of the landlord, he called 
for his horse and rode off", leaving an appointment 
for another time. Among those who had come to 
the meeting was a preacher of another denomina- 
tion. Bruce was not more than out of sis^ht when 
the captain's lieutenant rode up with a file of men, and 
enquired for the preacher. The one who had come 



IN VIRGINIA. 181 

to hear Bruce preach was pointed out to them as the 
only preacher present ; they instantly shot him down, 
and rode off, bragging that Bruce would never dis- 
perse another tory company. 

We give another incident. While travelling in 
the South, he had an appointment to preach which 
required him to start very early in order to reach it 
in time. After a ride of several miles he stopped at 
the house of a widow lady to get breakfast. He was 
scarcely seated in the house when an officer and a 
squad of men from Tarleton's troop rode into the 
yard and called for breakfast. Bruce met them, and 
politely invited them in, saying that he had called for 
the same purpose. He then left them and went to 
assist the good lady in the preparations. Very soon 
the table was spread with an abundance of good 
cheer, to which Bruce and the soldiers did ample jus- 
tico- The breakfast ended, Bruce turned to the 
officer and said, *'Sir, I am your prisoner. I am a 
Methodist preacher, on my way to an appointment, 
and would be pleased to be permitted to go." 

'* Certainly, certainly, Mr. Bruce," replied the 
officer, ** you are at liberty to go." 

He politely thanked the officer for his kindness, 
and rode off rejoicing. On being asked how he 
managed to get on so well with them, he said, **My 
father used to say to me, * Phil, if they will only let 
you talk, they will never hang you.' " 

In person Philip Bruce was commanding. He was 

tall, perfectly straight, very grave and dignified in 

his manners ; his hair was black and worn long, hia 

visage thin, his complexion dark, and his^ eyes bright 

15* 



182 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and piercing ; lais countenance was open and expres- 
sive, Hs features well developed and indicative of a 
high degree of iatellectual power. In the pulpit he 
was graceful and impressive. His sermons were 
usually short, but powerful, and he excelled in the 
application of gospel truth. His appeals were often 
irresistible. A characteristic anecdote was related to 
the writer by Rev. Joseph Carson, who was present 
on the occasion referred to. In one of his Episcopal 
tours. Bishop Asbury passed through the town of 
"Winchester, and as usual the good old man had sent 
ahead of him an appointment for preaching. In the 
afternoon the Bishop remarked to Bruce in a pla^^ul 
manner : " Now, Philip, I intend to pile up the brush 
to-night and you must set it pn fire." Asbury preached 
a plain, pointed, practical sermon, and when he sat 
down Bruce arose and delivered a most powerful ex- 
hortation, which told with overwhelming effect on the 
congregation. The Bishop's brush-haap blazed at the 
touch of Philip's torch. 

The following interesting notice of this good and 
great man has been famished by liev. Benjamin 
Devany : 

*^ My first acquaintance with this remarkable man 
of God, one of the fathers of the Virginia Confer- 
ence, took place in ^ew Berne, North Carolina, 
February 1807, at which time and place the Virginia 
Conference held its annual session. He was the oldest 
pireacher then belonging to the Conference, having 
travelled twenty -six years. His general appearance 
indicated that he was of French origin. In his person 
lie was tall and spare, face thin, black eyes, dark skin. 



IN VIRGINIA. 183 

and a prominent nose, with a pleasing, open counte- 
nance. He possessed great ministerial gravity, and 
yet he seemed ever cheerful without levity. He sel- 
dom spoke in the Conference, or in the social circle, 
without a smile lighting up his face. It was the prac- 
tice of the preachers of that day to fast at least one 
day in every week, and at this Conference, the subject 
of fasting was hrought up, but in what way it was 
introduced I do not now recollect ; but I well remem- 
ber the substance of what brother Bruce said concern- 
ing himself — that it had been his practice to fast one 
day in every week, but he had thought it injured his 
health, and that he did not now fast as often as he form- 
erly did ; he then said with tears in his eyes, * perhaps 
it would have been better for me to have continued re- 
gardless of my health.' As a Presiding Elder he was 
kind and affectionate to the preachers under his charge, 
and treated them as brethi'^n belove:!. He was a 
great favorite among the preachers and the people. 
He possessed a philosophic mind, and it was well 
stored with useful knowledge. I think his mind was 
better cultivated than any of his compeers •of th-e 
Conference. He united fine conversational powers 
with polished manners, and passed well in any com- 
pany in which he chanced to be thrown. He stood 
high in every community, both as a preacher and a 
Presiding Elder. His sermons were generally short, 
and delivered with much zeal and energy." 

The esteem in which he was held, was not confined 
to his own Conference ; it is stated on good authority 
that twice at a General Conference, he came within 
three votes of being elected Bishop, Like most of 



184 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the early preachers he never married. It is said, 
however, that at one time he entertained very serious 
thoughts on the subject, and had actually selected the 
lady, if he had not broached the subject, but on con- 
sulting Bishop Asbnry, that good man persuaded him 
to remain as he "was. The opposition of Asbury to 
his preachers' marrying may be accounted for by the 
fact that few consented after marriage to subject their 
families to the privations and hardsliips of the itine- 
rancy. He thus lost many of his best and strongest 
men from the itinerant ranks. A tradition has 
floated down to us to the effect that on a certain occa- 
sion, when he heard that one of his favorites in the 
'Hhmidering legion," was a captive fast bound in love's 
golden fetters, he exclaimed: '^I believe the devil and 
the women will get all my preachers." 

Bruce was a noble leader in that glorious band of 
heroes who believed in, preached, and enjoyed, holi- 
ness of heart. He stood ever ready to obey the call .*' 
'^ Come in, thou blessed of the Lord." How eagerly 
did the men of that day long for the appearance of 
the messenger of release. 

The followinoj touching^ scene occurred while Bruce 
was yet in Virginia. His faithful and long tried 
friend, Eev. John Early, now bishop, hearing that he 
was extremely ill, rode a long distance to attend him as 
a nm'se. He lodged in the same room with him, and 
one morning very early, perceiving the old man to be 
awake, he inquired how he had spent the night. * ' Oh !" 
said he, **I had a glorious dream last night. I 
thought I was in a straight road, and rapidly pressing 
along to some point in the distance that I seemed 



IN VIRGINIA. 185 

eager to reach. Many persons fell into the same way 
as we moved on, till the company swelled to a great 
multitude. After a while we reached a large and 
beautiful gate, which was opened to us by the porters, 
and the happy throng entered amidst triumphant 
rejoicing. I then thought this is heaven ; and imme- 
diately I felt that I was losing my old hat, and my 
old black coat, and my old boots ; in their stead, I 
wore a crown of gold, and was wrapped in a pure 
white robe, and found on my feet beautiful and richly 
wrought sandals. But just then I awoke, and, alas ! 
here I am still suffering in the flesh," and a shade of 
melancholy passed over the fine face of the old man 
as he lay on the couch of pain. The glorious vision 
had dissolved, and he was still buffeting the waves on 
a sea of troubles. 

For thirty-six years he stood in the front rank of 
the itinerancy. Faithful in every position, and suc- 
cessful in every field, he might well adopt the motto, 
** In labors more abundant." He lived in the days 
that tried the souls of men, and from every trial he 
came forth like gold well refined. He was a father in 
the Virginia Conference, to whose words of love and 
wisdom every ear was attentive. Many of the preach- 
ers had grown up under his fostering hand, and to 
him they looked more than to any other man for wis- 
dom and counsel, and for examples of noble self-denial, 
in the great field of ministerial toil. Borne down at 
length by labors and by the weight of years, he reluc- 
tantly consented to be placed in a superanuated re- 
lation, and in 1817 his name disappeared from the 



186 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

effective list. The closing years of his life were 
spent among his kindred in Tennessee. 

Calmly and peacefally he descended the vale of 
life, venerated and loved by all the Church, a veteran 
soldier of the cross, patiently awaiting his discharge 
from the militant Church on earth, and hi« call to join 
the triumphant host beyond the flood of death. His 
sublime death-scene we sh-all reserve for its appix)pri- 
ate place in this narrative. 

In the history of early Methodism, the name of 
Jesse Lee holds a place second only to that of Fran- 
cis Asbury. The life and labors of this eminent man 
have already been fully portrayed in the elaborate 
memoir prepared by Leroy M. Lee, D. D. ; but still 
our work would be imperfect without, at least, a rapid 
sketch of one whose name is so closely interwoven 
with, the rise and progress of Methodism in Virginia. 

Jesse Lee was the son of Kathaiiiel and Elizabeth 
Lee, of Prince George county, Virginia. He was 
born March 12, 1758. At an early age he was put 
to school, and as soon as he had learned to read, was 
directed to procure a prayer-book, and carry it to 
to church w^th him every Sunday. Out of the 
prayer-book he learned the catechism. His teacher 
was a member of the Church of England, and pos- 
sessed the form if not the power of godliness. He 
read the church service in his school at least twice a 
week, and thus sought to impress on the minds of his 
pupils many important truths of religion. These ex- 
ercises, formal as they were, had their influence on 
the mind of young Lee. "When summoned to 
church on Sunday, he would seat himself in his pew, 



IN VIRGINIA. 1S7 

with his prayer-book in. his hand, and repeat the ser* 
vice in a manner which did credit to one of his age." 
His early catechetical instruction had a good effect m 
checking the sinful tendencies of a young and ardent 
nature, ** In a thousand instances," he writes, **when 
I felt an inclination to act and speak amiss, I have 
been stopped by the recollection of my catechism, 
some parts of which I did not understand ; yet it was 
good upon the whole that I learned it." It was but 
natural that in a community where the merest forms 
of religion were recognized, he should have yielded 
to the seductive influences of sin in some of its forms. 
It is said that he was fo-nd of dancing and other 
frivolous amusements. But he was free from all the 
grosser vices of the day. In a review of his youth, 
taken in mature life, he says: *'I do not recollect 
that I ever swore in my life, except one night, being 
in company with some wicked young people, I uttered 
some kind of oaths, for which I felt ashamed and 
sorry all the next day, and when all alone, I felt that 
God was displeased with me for my bad conduct. I 
believe I never did anything in my youth that the 
people generally call wicked. I used, however, to 
indulge bad tempers, and use some vain words." 

Jesse Lee was converted in the spring of 1773. 
The word that fastened conviction on his heart fell 
from the lips of his father, who, with his mother, 
had found the way of life under the preaching oi 
Devereux Jarratt. While in conversation with a pious 
relative, the elder Lee remarked : *' If a man's sins 
were forgiven him he would hiowit,^^ *^ These words," 
says Jesse, ** took hold of my mind^ I pondered them 



188 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ill my heart, they kept running across my mmd by 
day and by night." The question he asked himself 
was, ** Are my sins forgiven ?" ** iVb," was the only 
reply of conscience. He wandered across the fields, 
and through the woods in an agony of spirit. He 
would cast himself down for prayer in the depths of 
the forest, and in a moment, fancying be was watched, 
he would start up and % to a deeper and more secret 
recess. **I would frequently get by myself," he 
writes, " and with many tears pray to God to have 
mercy upon my poor soul, and forgive my sins. Some- 
times in the open fields I would fall on my knees, and 
pray and weep till my heart was ready to break. At 
other times my heart was so hard that I could not 
shod a tear. It would occur to my mind, * Your day 
of grace is past, and God will never forgive your 
sins.' It appeared to me that of all sinners in the 
world, I was the greatest ; ray sins appeared to me 
greater in magnitude and multitude than the sins of 
any other person." Thus he struggled on in thick 
darkness. For weeks the cry of his troubled spirit 
was, " How shall I escape the misery of hell ? At 
length, having staggered under his heavy burden 
through the wilderness, he reached the borders of the 
promised land. *'One morning being in deep dis- 
tress, and fearing every moment I should drop in to 
hell, and viewing myself as hanging over the pit, I 
was constrained to cry in earnest for mercy, and the 
Lord came to my relief and delivered my soul from 
the burden and guilt of sin. My whole frame was in 
a tremor from head to foot, and my soul enjoyed sweet 
peace. The pleasure T then felt was indescribable. 



IN VIRGINIA. 189 

Tills happiness lasted about three days, during which 
time I never spoke to any person about my feelings. 
I anxiously wished for some one to talk to me on the 
subject, but no one did." 

Of this hesitation the enemy took advantage, the 
young believer fell into doubts, and for six months he 
was the victim of harrassing fears. One day a re- 
ligious neighbor, riding with him, asked him if he had 
ever been converted ? This led to an interchange of 
views, and, much encouraged by the conversation, 
young Lee again sought and found the evidence of 
pardon. His father's family having united with the 
Methodist Societies formed by Robert Williams, he 
was thrown much in the company of that good and 
earnest man. Under a sermon preached in his father's 
house, probably by Williams, Jesse was led to see 
the necessity of inward holiness. This great blessing 
he earnestly sought, and found to the great joy of 
his heart. Let him tell his own experience on this 
important point : 

**I did firmly believe that the Lord was both able 
and willing to save to the uttermost all that would 
come to him. I felt a sweet distress in my soul for 
holiness of heart and life. I sensibly felt that while 
I was seeking for purity of heart, I grew in grace, and 
in the knowledge of God. This concern lasted for 
some time, till at length I could say, * I have nothing 
but the love of Christ in my heart' I was assured that 
my soul was continually happy in God. The world 
with all its charms is crudfied to me, and I am crucU 
Hed to the loorld,^^ 

Having removed to Korth Carolina to superintend 



190 MEMORIALS OF METHODISil 

the afikirs of a widowed relative, his zeal began to 
mauifeat itself iu earnest labor for the promotion of 
religion. He was appointed class-leader ; he hesi- 
tated, but dared not refuse. His next step was to 
hold prayer meetings, in which he " begged the people 
to be reconciled to God." Love for souls overflowed 
his heart: ^*I seldom gave an exhortation without 
weeping, for my heart yearned over the souls of poor 
sinners. I could truly say, ' the zeal of thy house 
hath eaten me up.'" 

The talents and zeal of young Lee did not escape 
the notice of the watchful travelling preachers. He 
was now called to the work of preaching Christ. 
They had secured to the cause of Methodism one 
whose power was felt for almost forty years, in every 
portion of the work. ** On the 17th of ]N*ovember, 
1779," he writes, *'I preached for the first time in 
my life, at a place called the Old Barn. My text 
was 1st. John iii, 1,2. I felt more liberty in speak- 
ing from the text than I expected to feel when I began. " 
He had now broken ground, and went forward with 
great zeal, calling sinners to repentance. But a sense 
ot his insufficiency painfully oppressed him ; it is 
always so with him who is truly called of God to the 
work. The great question is, ** who is sufficient for 
i.h«ee things ?" He writes : ^* I was so sensible of my 
own weakness and insufficiency, that after I had 
preached, I would retire to the woods and prostrate 
myself on the ground and weep before the Lord, and 
pray that he would pardon the imperfections of my 
preaching, and give me strength to declare His whole 
counsel in purity." He was soon called to supply the 



IN VIRGINIA. 191 

place of the circuit preacher for a few weeks ; he did 
so with fear and trembling, but the people were bene- 
fited by his preaching, and he was strengthened in 
the conviction that he was in the path of duty. 

We must now behold the young preacher in a new 
and strange field of action. The storm of war had 
burst on Virginia and iNTorth Carolina ; the people 
were startled by the repoits of battles, and by the 
rumors that poured in, of the rapid approach of the 
British army. Lee, with many others in his county, 
was drafted to serve in the militia. He was in a 
a strait ; he was opposed to fighting, but he must obey 
the civil government. He made up his mind to join 
the army, but determined not to fight. He reached 
the camp. The order was given to distribute guns 
to all the soldiers. Lee had resolved not only 
not to fire but not to touch a musket. '*The ser- 
geant," he says, '^ soon came round with the guns, 
and offered me one, but I would not take it. Then 
the lieutenant brought me one, but I refused to take 
it. He said I should go under guard. He then went 
to the colonel, and coming back, brought a gun and 
set it down against me. I told him he had as well 
take it away, or it would fall. He then took me with 
him and delivered me to the guard." The colonel 
soon came and vainly tried to convince him that he 
ought to fight in so good a cause ; but he was resolute 
in his refusal. He was then left in charge of the 
guard. That he had the moral courage to make a 
soldier, cannot be doubted ; but he was a preacher of 
the gospel of peace, and he could not^ as he believed, 



'^lim'm. 



192 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

go into battle without violating the command, *^ Thon 
Shalt not kill." 

In the guard-room he found a Baptist who bad re- 
fused to fight on the same ground. They bad prayer 
in the guard-room that night, and he told the soldiers 
if they would come early in the morning be would 
pray with them. The soldiers gave him a good bed 
of straw, and covered him with their blankets and 
great coats. The next morning (Sunday) he was up 
by light, and began to sing. Several hundred sol- 
diers gathered, joined him in the hymn, and they 
made the ** plantation ring with the songs of Zion." 
He then prayed, his soul was filled, he wept, and all 
round him were scores of soldiers bathed in tears. 

The tavern keeper, near whose house they were en- 
camped, had heard the prayer as he lay in bed, his 
heart was touched, be wept as he listened, and soon 
came out and desired Lee to preach for them. He 
agreed to do so if the colonel would consent. The 
colonel was a humane man, though very profane. 
^' When be beard I was about to preach, it affected 
him very mucb ; so he came and talked to me on 
the subject of bearing arms. I told him I could not 
kill a man with a good conscience, but I was a friend 
to my country, and was willing to do anything I 
could while I conthiucd in the army, except fighting." 
He was therefore released from confinement and pro- 
moted to the command of a baggage wagon. His 
first sermon was preached from a bench near the 
colonel's tent, from the text, *' Except ye repent ye 
shall all likewise perish." 

In the afternoon be preached again, and ''many 



IN VIROINIA. 193 

of the hearers were very solemn, and some of them 
wept freely under the preaching of the word. Lee 
continued with the army nearly three months. Dur- 
ing the retreat which followed the news of Gate's 
disastrous defeat at Camden, he was promoted to the 
command of a small band of pioneers. The British 
army, flushed with success, was pressing on the re- 
treating column. 

In a skirmish a few on both sides were killed. A 
panic at once spread through the country, and the 
roads were soon filled with families flying, with what 
little property they could catch up, before the ad- 
vancing foe. The scene was touching. Helpless 
women and children struggled along weary and 
wretched, hardly knowing whither they fled ; among 
them were not a few men, wounded and bleeding. 
The colonel rode up to the side of the captain of pio- 
neers and exclaimed, ** Well, Lee! don't you think 
you could fight now V 

**I told him I could fight with switches, but I 
could not kill a man." He would have cut a sorry 
figure flourishing **a bunch of birch" in the face of 
a regiment of British grenadiers. 

The retreat of the army brought the usual suffer- 
ings. Many soldiers fell sick, and many died. Lee 
was now in his true sphere as a preacher. When 
the poor men lay in huts or barns at the point of 
death, there he was found, *^ talking to them about 
their souls, and begging them to prepare to meet 
their God." These pious labors he continued until 
his discharge fi^om the army. He gladly left the 
16* 



194 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

camp, and took up his solitary line of marcli for his 
father's house. 

He now began to think more seriously of devoting 
himself fully to the work of God as an itinerant. 
He says : * ' I had been for some time deeply exer- 
cised about travelling and preaching the gospel ; and 
at times it appeared that I could not with a clear 
conscience resist the thought, and still was unwilling 
to go, fearing that I should injure the work of God, 
which I loved as I did my own life." He sought to 
escape these convictions of duty by entering the 
married state, but here he was disappointed, as he 
had prayed he might be if it was the will of God 
that he should enter the itinerant field. The great 
question still pressed on his conscience. **My exer- 
cises," he writes, '* about travelhng and preaching 
still continue. I have often been solicited by the 
preachers to take a circuit, but am afraid I shall hurt 
the cause of God, which I wish with all my heart to 
promote. I feel willing to take up my cross and fol- 
low Christ, but tremble at the thought of touching 
the ark of the Lord too hastily." While in this 
state of mind, a young man came to him one day 
and told him that under one of his sermons he had 
been cut to the heart, and had sought and found 
pardon. This greatly encouraged him ; his feelings 
began to take the form of clear and strong convic- 
tions ; he was treading the verge of that great field 
in which he labored so long and so successfully. 

In the spring of 1782 he attended the Conference 
at Ellis' Meeting House in Sussex. The scene was 
new to him ; it made an indelible impression on his 



IN VIRGINIA. 195 

mind. He felt himself drawn toward the little band, 
then sitting in council, by a strange but delightful 
influence. 

We shall allow him to paint this Conference scene. 
** The union and brotherly love which I saw among 
the preachers, exceeded every thing I had ever seen 
before, and caused me to wish that I was worthy to 
have a place amougst them. When they took leave 
of each other, I observed that they embraced each 
other in their arms, and wept as though they never 
expected to meet again. Had the heathen been 
there, they might have well said, * See how these 
Christians love one another T By reason of what I 
saw and heard during the four days that the Confer- 
ence sat, I found my heart truly humbled in the dust, 
and my desire greatly increased to love and serve 
God more publicly than I had ever done before. 

"At the close of the Conference, Mr. Asbury came 
to me and asked me if I was willing to take a cir- 
cuit ; I told him that I could not well do it, but sig- 
nified I was at a loss to know what was best for me 
to do. I was afraid of hurting the cause I wished 
to promote ; for I was very sensible of my own weak- 
ness. At last he called to some of the preachers 
standing in the yard a little way off, and said, * I am 
going to enlist Brother Lee.' One of them replied, 
* What bounty do you give V He answered, ' Grace 
here, and glory hereafter, will be given if he ia 
faithful.' 

*' Some of the preachers then talked to me and per- 
suaded me to go, but I trembled at the thought, and 



196 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

sliuddered at the cross, and did not at that time 
consent." 

He parted with the preachers, and retnrned home 
to settle his temporal affairs, and be ready for the 
call of the Church. In the fall he entered regular ly 
on the work. He was sent by the presiding Elder, 
Caleb Pedicord, to aid Edward Dromgoole in form- 
ing a new circuit in the lower part of North Carolina. 
The Camden circuit was formed during their explo- 
rations, and it still stands as one of the oldest circuits 
in the Virginia Conference. At the next Confer- 
ence, May, 1783, Jesse Lee was received on trial. 
He was appointed to a circuit in IiTorth Carolina, and 
labored with great zeal and success on different cir- 
cuits in that State until 1785, when he accompanied 
Bishop Asbury on a tour to South Carolina. It was 
on this journey that his thoughts were first directed 
to the new and useful field in which he became the 
apostle of Methodism. lie fell in with a young man 
from Massachusetts and from him learned many in- 
teresting particulars respecting the people of Kew 
England. He felt at once a presentiment that he was 
to plant Methodism in that land. He opened his 
mind to Asbury, but the Bishop thought the time for 
such a movement had not come. Nevertheless, Lee 
cherished the thought in his heart, and providentially 
he advanced toward the field in which he gathered 
his highest trophies. 

First he was transferred to Maryland, and thence 
to a circuit lying partly in New Jersey and partly in 
New York. Here he reached the outposts of Calvin- 
ism. " Predestination, election, reprobation, decrees, 



IN VIRGINIA. 197 

final perseverance, and other dogmas were thrown at 
him from every nook and corner of the country." 
Here he began his attacks on that system, against 
which he dealt such terrible blows in its strongholds. 
In the summer of 1789 the long cherished hope of 
Lee was realized. He was in l^ew England. An 
unexplored country lay before him in all the beauty 
of its variegated landscape. His heart beat with a 
strange emotion. He was venturing on a desperate 
encounter, He had not a single acquaintance in all 
New England. Without learning, without patronage, 
he was to battle against a form of faith that had 
seized the hearts of the people with an iron grasp. 
Great were the odds against him, but he was not the 
man to quail before any opposition. He went in the 
strength of Him who said, **Lo, I am with you 
always." He opened his mission at Norwalk, in 
Connecticut. Denied admission into the house of a 
gentleman to whom ho had letters of introduction, he 
took his stand in the street and began to sing. 
** While he was singing about twenty persons gath- 
ered about him. After singing he kneeled down on 
the ground, and prayed in a strain so devotional, so 
fervent, as to excite strongly the attention of the hearers, 
He then gave out a text, and began to speak, while 
the people were gathering in multitudes around him, 
in brief and pointed sentences. He then presented 
in succession a variety of beautiful images and poetic 
pictures, so as strongly to arouse the imagination, and 
vividly excite the attention of the people." His ser- 
mon made a powerful impression. *'No such man 
has visited New England since the days of Whitefield," 



198 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

exclaimed the wondering people. Ko one, however, 
invited the weary and hungry man to rest and eat. 
The strange preacher passed on, and in a few weeks 
he had explored a large portion of the State and 
arranged a circuit. But he encountered great opposi- 
tion. Within the limits of his first circuit there were 
*^ forty-five Congregational ministers, men of liberal 
education, settled over able congregations, and sup- 
ported by large salaries secured by law." But what 
affected him more than iany thing else, was the con- 
trast between the open and generous hospitality of the 
South, and ^Hhe grudging, stinted, ekings of those 
who deemed his presence an intrusion." He was 
annoyed and embarrassed. On reaching a house to 
which he had been invited, he found the man and his 
wife had left home to avoid him ; walking into a house 
which he had been invited to make his home, no one 
offered hirii a seat ; helping himself to a chair, he 
tried to make himself at home ; when the hour for 
preaching came, not one of the family would go ; 
on his return from meeting scarcely a word was spoken 
to him ; the man of the house held prayers, and said 
nothing to his guest ; in the morning the whole 
family slept against time, and Lee was compelled to 
leave fasting. He alighted at the door of an inn, 
and told the hostess he was a preacher and wished to 
preach in the village. 

'' Have you a liberal education, sir ?" 

''Tolerably liberal, madam; enough I think to 
carry me through the country." 

The same question was put by the selectmen of the 
place when he asked for the use of the court house. 



IN VIRGINIA. 19^ 

He told them he did not like to boast of his learning, 
but hoped he had enough to get on with among them. 
His ready wit, keen retorts, when pressed by his oppo- 
nents, and his free, social manner, gained him friends 
among the people, and greatly contributed to his suc- 
cess. On one occasion a plan was laid to expose his 
ignorance before the congregation. A pedantic lawyer 
was selected to lead the attack. 

** When the people had all collected, the lawyer 
arose and addressed him in Latin. Lee suspected the 
stratagem, and returned the compliment by an address 
in Dutch. The lawyer took the Dutch for Hebrew^ 
and concluded he had caught a Tartar." The discom- 
fiture was complete. Lee was subjected to no more 
classical examinations. 

Riding along one day, he was overtaken by a min- 
ister and a lawyer. They at once began to attack him 
on doctrinal points. The contest soon grew warm. 
Lee poured hot shot into them right and left. At 
length the lawyer broke out on him : 

** Sir, are you a knave or a fool ?" 

'•lam," replied Lee, ** neither the one nor the 
other ; but" — casting his eyes first at the lawyer and 
then at the minister — " I happen at present to be just 
between the two.^^ He was soon travelling the road alone. 

Here is another scene. 

** Good morning Mr. Lee," said one of a couple of 
lawyers, who had determmed to have some sport with 
him, '^ you are a preacher, I think ?" 

** Yes sir, I pass for a preacher." 

** Have you a liberal education ?" 



200 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM. 

" I have enough to get over the country with, but 
nothing to boast of." 

*^ You preach without notes, I understand." 
^'Yes, preaching every day, and riding often a 
long distance, I have no time to write sermons, and, 
besides, I do not approve of reading sermons." 

** Are you not liable in extemporaneous preaching 
to make mistakes ?" 

" yes, I often make mistakes." 
** Do you correct them as you proceed ?" 
*' Why that depends wholly on the character of the 
mistake. If the mistake is a bad one, and hablc to 
lead the hearer to any essential error, or a misconcep- 
tion of the subject, I recall the word and correct the 
mistake immediately ; but if it be only a slip of the 
tongue, and very near the truth, only a slight varia- 
tion in phraseology, I let it go. For example, I was 
about to say the other day, the devil is a liar, and the 
father of liars, and by a mero slip of the tongue I 
said, the devil is a laivyer, and the father of lawyers. 
But the thing was so near correct, being in fact the 
truth, but only a little varying in phraseology from 
what I would have said, that I passed right on, not 
thinking the mistake worth correcting." 

The new preacher was hardly less formidable to the 
clergy than to the lawyers. He was challenged to a 
discussion by the minister at Heading. He rather 
declined, preferring to preach on experimental reli- 
gion. The zealous Calvinist pressed him to the con- 
flict, and he at length consented to preach, when 
he came again, on doctrines. He stood up in the 
midst of the advocates of Calvinism and handled the 



IN YIRGINIA. 201 

system without mercy. He was extremely severe on 
the ** Saybrook Platform, which contained the arti- 
cles of faith of the Connecticut churches." A few 
days after, a tinker came along, seeking for old ware to 
mend. He was told that there might not be much 
broken ware to mend, **but if he could mend the 
Saybrook Platform, in which a Methodist preacher 
had knocked a sad hole, he might realize a good 
piice for his services." 

Extemporaneous preaching was something novel 
in I^ew England. A bigoted and officious clergyman 
consented that Lee might preach in his church on 
condition that he should select the text and present 
it after Lee had entered the pulpit. To this Lee 
agreed. The matter was noised through the village, 
and on the day appointed the house was crow^ded. 
The utter discomforture of the new comer many of 
them thought was at hand. The introductory ser- 
vices being over, the minister handed Lee the text. 
It was !N"umbers 22nd chapter, and part of the 21st 
verse : "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and 
saddled his ass." 

" Rather a hard text this," thought Lee, though 
he said nothing, ** to preach on at so short a notice." 

The minister composed himself in his seat with a 
look of grim satisfaction, ** Being well acquainted 
with the story of Balaam, Lee proceeded at once to 
describe his character, discanting largely on his ava- 
rice and love of the wages of unrighteousness, de- 
nouncing in severe language the baseness of the man 
who could use the prophetic office as a means of gain, 
and could endanger the very souls of the people of 

1 7 



202 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Israel, for the sake of the wages which Balak offered. 
He then proceeded to describe the oppressed, enslaved 
and pitiable condition of the ass. He spoke affect- 
ingly of the patience of the creature under burdens, 
and spurs, and whippings, a»d abuses. He said the 
ass usually endured without complaining all the abuse 
heaped on him. Indeed, except the one in the his- 
tory of Balaam, there had never been knawn an in- 
stance of an ass speaking and expostulating under ill 
treatment. He alluded to the saddle, and described 
how galliug and oppressive it might become, espe- 
cially under the weight of a large, fat, heavy man. 
At this point he cast a knowing look to the minister, 
who happened to be a very large and corpulent per- 
son. Having gone through with an exposition or 
the subject, he proceeded to the application. He said 
the idea might be new to them. Indeed, it had never 
thus struck him till the text was given him ; but he 
thought Balaam might be considered a type and rep- 
resentative of their minister. Balaam's ass, in many 
respects, reminded him of themselves, the congrega- 
tion of that town and the saddle bound on the 
poor ass, by cords and girts, evidently represented the 
minister's salary fastened on them by legal cords. 
Its galliug and oppressive influence they had often felt, 
inasmuch as, in some instances, as he had been in- 
formed, the last and only cow of a poor man with a 
large family had been taken and sold to pay the tax 
for the salary of the well fed incumbent of the 
saddle." 
After this specimen of his skill in extempore ser- 



IN VIRGINIA. 203 

mons lie was no more troubled by impertinent clergy- 
men with, sudden and strange texts. 

Eight of the best years of his life, Jesse Lee spent 
in Kew England. Il^ever did a man labor more earn- 
estly to plant Methodism in an uncongenial soil. 
Ko dangers deterred him, no repulses disheartened 
him, no difficulties discouraged him. Indeed, the 
opposition that faced him at every step of his progress 
seemed to inspire him with fresh courage, and nerve 
him for greater labors. lie left his impress on every 
important town in N'ew England. His heroism called 
a host of ardent spirits to his aid, who strove to emu- 
late the self-denying example of their leader. 

Ten years after he entered the land of the Paritans, 
twenty-five flaming pi^eachers w^ere distributed over 
the wide field, and thirteen hundred souls had been 
gathered into the fold of Methodism. The adven- 
tures of Lee amid the homes of the Pilgrims would 
aftbrd abundant material for a most entertaining 
volume. 

The sober reality of truth would possess the pleas- 
ing excitement of romance. He was the first Meth- 
odist preacher, after "Whitefield who stood up to preach 
on Boston Common. He reached the city and sought 
in vain for a house to preaJi in. On Sabbath after- 
noon, when the Common was filled with people, who 
lounged in the cool shade, or sauntered along the 
delightful walks, he entered, and making his way 
through the crowd, took his stand beneath the famous 
** Old Elm," then, as now% the pride of Bostonians. 

He stood on a bench and began to sing. A few 
persons, attracted by the novel sound,, gathered about 



204 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

liim. Having finished tlie hymn, lie offered prayer. 
'* Hif prayer, so free, so fervent, so spiritual, excited 
the d iep attention of the persons, accustomed as they 
liad I een to hear only the dull, artificial, precise and 
long-winded prayers of the Puritan divines. 

When he arose from his knees, he found a large 
audience assembled. He opened his Bible, gave out 
a tex"^, and began to preach. His congregation rapidly 
increased, and when he concluded there were present 
not less than three thousand persons." The sermon 
over, the wondering multitude dispersed, no one took 
the preacher by the hand, no one invited him to a place 
of rest ; he was allowed to depart as he had come, 
uncsred for and unknown. He preached again the 
next Sunday to a larger crowd on the same spot, and 
then left the city. When he again appeared in Bos- 
ton, it was on the verge of winter. The Common 
was deserted, save by those who hurried across it, 
wrapped in their cloaks, to their warm, cosy homes. 
Four weeks he walked the city, searching in vain for 
a room in which to preach Christ. On every hand 
he met refusals ; sad and weary, he sat down to pon- 
der on what should next be done. In the midst of 
the gloom a faint ray of light suddenly appeared ; 
a letter came inviting him to visit the town of Lynn; 
he went and from that time it became his headquar- 
ters. Soon he obtained a foothold in Boston, and 
from that moment the march of Methodism was 
onward. 

Lee was the pioneer of that resolute band who 
plai.ted' Methodism in the cheerless province of 
JMa^^e. It was a territory of vast extent. Its soli- 



IN VIRGINIA. 205 

tades had never been broken by the voice of a Meth- 
odist preacher. 

Lee planned an expedition into those unknown 
regions, and all alone took up his line of march. 
How faithfully he performed his duty will only be 
fully known in the day that shall reveal a'l things. 
Battling with storms, sti'uggllng through snow-drifts, 
facing the mighty winds as they swept down from 
the desolate mountains, he rode boldly forward on his 
great errand. Everywhere he preached the word ; it 
took hold of the hearts of the people ; societies were 
formed, churches built, and Methodism began to bring 
forth fruit. In Maine he found none of those diffi- 
culties which existed in the older settlements. As a 
new country it was specially adapted to the plans of 
Methodism. He and his co-laborers had only to go 
up and possess the land. 

When Lee was called in 1797, to be the travelling 
companion of Bishop Asbury, he left in Kew Eng- 
land nearly forty travelling preachers and three thou- 
sand members. 

For several years he continued to travel with As- 
bury, and assist in the business of the Conferences. 
He thus became widely known throughout the vast 
field of Methodism. His eminent labors, his sound 
judgment, his acknowledged ability and his ardent 
attachment to all the forms of Methodism, gave him 
great prominence among the preachers, and at the 
General Conference of 1800 he came very near being 
elected Bishop. On the second ballot there was a tie 
between him and Whatcoat, and on the third ballot 
Wliatcoat was elected by a majoritv of four votes. 
17* 



206 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The last fifteen years of his life he spent in the Vir- 
ginia Conference with occasional visits to the Southern 
and E'orthern portions ol the work. He was elected 
Chaplain to the House of Eepresentatives for several 
successive years, and there, as in every other position, 
maintained the integrity and purity of his character 
as a minister of the gospel. 

'*As a preacher he excelled." Thomas Ware, who 
heard him often, and who was an excellent judge of 
preaching, pronounced him the best every-day preacher 
he ever heard; he w^as sometimes surpassingly eloquent. 
He had the power both of convincing the judgment and 
arousing the passions. He gained much in power 
over the people by his manifestation of deep interest 
and feeling for them. He would be often himself 
moved to tears in the midst of his discourse, and 
sometimes his intensity of emotion would arrest his 
utterance. He would stop and weep over the people 
as Jesus wept over Jerusalem. 

We may appropriately close this hasty and imper- 
fect sketch with the following recollections from the 
pen of Kev. B. Devany : 

**My acquaintance with Jesse Lee commenced at 
the Conference held at E"ew Berne, IST. C, February,. 
1807 ; but I was not intimate with him until 1810, 
when I was stationed in Petersburg, and he was my 
presiding elder. Here we were frequently together, 
and I often heard him preach. A w^arm friendship 
was formed between ns that continued as long he 
lived. Brother Lee was of a stout, athletic frame, and 
weighed about 250 pounds, his skin was fair, his 
eyes grey, and his face full and broad ; his step was 



IN VIRGINIA. 207 

qn'ick and firm, and lie was quite active for one of 
Ms ponderous weight. The record of his labors 
shows that he possessed an iron constitution, by which 
he could say, 'in labors more abundant.' As a 
preacher he had no equal in the Virginia Conference. 
His preaching was plain, practical and experimental^ 
carrying conviction to the heart ; and so great was 
his variety that one never tired under his ministry, 
because he always seemed to be new. His * preach- 
ing-^ was not with enticing words of man's wisdom,, 
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.' 
But few men that I have heard, ever preached more 
fully under the influence of the Holy Spirit than ho 
did. I once heard him in the county of Sussex, at a 
quarterly meeting on Sunday, preach to a large con- 
gregation, out of doors, from Isaiah xlii: 11 : 'Let the 
inhabitants of the rocks sing,' &c. The sermon was 
truly eloquent and sublime. He was very much ani- 
mated, the big tears coursed freely down his cheeks, 
and he shouted, ' glory to God ! glory to God !' The 
efl'ect on the congregation w^as thrillmg almost be- 
yond description. 

"Up to this late period of my life, when I am old 
and grey-headed, when I have numbered my three- 
score years and eleven, I still retain a grateful recol- 
lection of that great and good man. Although there 
was such disparity in our ages, he, nevertheless, took 
me to his bosom, and to his friendship ; and encour- 
aged and instructed me as a father. The first time I 
heard him preach was one night at the above named 
Conference. His text was. Acts xvii : 6 : ' These 
that have turned the world upside down are come 



208 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

hither also.' He showed first, that through sin the 
world was now wrong side up, and second, that the 
design and effect of the gospel was to turn the world 
right side up. During that night some of the row- 
dies- and rabhle of the town, turned upside down 
every vehicle that they could lay their hands on, as 
well as all the small boats at the wharf. 

^^ Mr. Lee possessed a rare talent for wit and keen 
satire, which he sometimes wielded with tremendous 
force against an opponent. I was. present at the 
Conference in Ealeigh, E". C, in 1811, where there 
were some complaints preferred against him for the 
neglect of his work while Chaplain to Congress, and 
something concerning the publication of his History 
of Methodism. He made his notes, and remained 
silent till his accusers had gotten through their 
speeches. He then arose with a playful smile, which 
seemed to indicate a little mischief ahead, and replied 
to each of them in consecutive order; and by argu- 
ment, wit, and satire combined, he threw them off 
from him as easily as the lion shakes the dew-drops 
from his mane. Some of them, no doubt, regreted, 
as long as they lived, that they undertook to break a 
lance with him on that occasion. 

He was plain in his dress, easy in his manners, and 
by reading and extensive travel, his mind was well 
stored with knowledge, and excellent anecdotes — 
hence he was always a welcome guest in the family 
circle. I will here give the substance of an anecdote 
which was related to me many years ago in the neigh- 
borhood where it was said the scene occurred. Lee 
was on a preaching tour in one of the lower counties 



IN VIRGINIA. 26^ 

of North Carolina, where a Quaker gentleman 
chanced to hear him, and became so much interested, 
that he followed him to several appointments, and at 
last sought an interview with him at a private house. 
In the course of the conversation the Quaker said : 

** Friend Lee, there is one thing in thy worship 
that I do not like." 

<* What is that?" said Lee. 

**It is thy singing," replied the Quaker. 

'*0," said Lee, **upon this subject there is very 
little difterence between us ; we sing before we preach, 
and you sing when you preach." 

Jesse Lee and Philip Bruce were the oldest preach- 
ers of the Virginia Conference at that time, and 
might justly be regarded as the fathers of the Con- 
ference; because they had been itinerating years 
before it was organized. But their labors are ended, 
and they have entered upon their great reward — many 
shall rise up in the Judgment day, and call them 
blessed." 



210 HEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER YII. 

The Christmas Conference — Organization of the Methodist Epis- 
copal . Church — Hearty unity among the societies — Action 
•against slavery — Influence of Dr. Coke — Plan for a College — 
Opening of the Institution — ;Its destruction by fire — Re-estab- 
lishment of the College at Baltimore — Again destroyed by fire — 
Visit of Dr. Coke to Virginia — His zeal against slavery — Excite- 
ment against him — Discussion at Conference — Petition to the 
Legislaiure — Asbury and Coke visit General "Washington — The 
interview — Conference of 1785 — Preachers sent to Virginia — 
Joseph Everett — Sketch of his life — Origin of the Presiding 
Elders' office — Extensive revivals — Asbury 's travels in Vir- 
ginia — Conference of 1786 — Call for missionaries for Georgia — 
Financial operations of the Church — Conference for 1787 — 
Richard Owings — Revival — Conferences of 1788 — Valentine 
Cook — William McKendree — First Conference in the Holston 
country--Success in that year — Conversion of General Russell. 

THE Christmas Conference assembled at Baltimore, 
on the 25th of December, 1784, and discharged 
its important duties within the brief space of one 
week. ^^We were in great haste," says Asbury, 
*' and did much business in a little time." Every im- 
portant question, however,, was duly discussed, and 
was settled by a majority of votes. 

As the Methodist societies in America now took the 
form of a church organization in the strict and proper 
sense, it will not be out of place to glance at the 
measures which were adopted. 



IN YIRGINIA. 211 

The title seleeted was ** The Methodist Episcopal 
Church." 

The Dext act was to elect Dr. Thomas Coke and 
Francis Asbury to the office of Superintendents of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. 

Asbury was then, on the first day of the Confer- 
ence, ordained a Deacon y on the second an Elder, and 
on the third, Superintendent, by Dr. Coke, assisted 
by Richard Whatcoat, Thomas Yassey, and Eev. P. 
W. Otterbine, a minister of the German Church, 
*^ the holy, the great Otterbine" — at Asbury's special 
request. 

Thirteen of the oldest and most experienced preach- 
ers were elected Elders ; three were elected Deacons. 

A form of Discipline was adopted substantially the 
same as that we now have. Mr. Wesley had sent over 
an abridgment ot* the Book of Common Prayer, used 
by the Church of England, and recommended its use 
by the American Methodists. This was done in a few 
places, but it met with much opposition from preachers 
and people, and the practice was soon abandoned. 
The Superintendents and some of the Elders adopted 
the use of the gown, and not unfrequently appeared 
before the people in full canonical dress. At the first 
meeting of Asbury and Jesse Lee, after the organi- 
zation of the Church, the latter was astonished to see 
the new Bishop come out of his room in *'gowu, 
cassock and band," and go through the service with 
all the dignity and precision of an appointee of the 
Bishop of London. But such was the opposition to 
both these practices, that they were wholly given up 
'u the course of a few years. The people could not 



212 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

fail to associate .the use of the gown and the prayer- 
book "with a ministr}^ of loose morals and vicious lives. 

The organization of the Church gave very general 
satisfaction to the Methodists. They were ** heartily 
united together," says Jesse Lee, ** in the plan which 
the Conference adopted, and from that time religion 
greatly revived." William Watters assures us that the 
action gave great satisfaction throughout the societies. 

The thousands of Methodists scattered through the 
land could now receive the Sacraments from the hands 
of their own pastors, and have their children dedi- 
cated to God ])y men in whose piety they placed the 
highest confidence. Upon no Christian organization 
since the apostolic age, has the Head of the Church 
more distinctly stamped the seal of his approbation. 
But while this is true of all those plans of Methodism 
which looked directly to the spreading of Scriptural 
holiness over the land, the same cannot be asserted 
of other measures, whic'li brought the Church into 
fearful collision with public opinion in many portions 
of the country, and sometimes with the civil govern- 
ment, on a most exciting question. 

We refer, of course, to the question of slavery. 

Under the lead of Dr. Coke, the Christmas Confer- 
ence, took measures to free the Church wholly and 
forever from the supposed evil of slavery. As the 
Methodists in Virginia were vitally interested in the 
action of the Conference and were powerfully affected 
by it, we shall transcribe the entire record on this 
subject. 

'' Question 42 — ^What methods can we take to ex- 
tirpate slavery ? 



IN VIRGINIA. 213 

'' Answer — ^We are deeply conscious of the impro- 
priety of making new terms of communion for a re- 
ligious society already established, excepting on the 
most pressing occasion: and such we esteem the 
practice of holding our fellow creatures in slavery. 
We view it as contrary to the golden law of God, on 
which hang all the law and the prophets, and the un- 
alienable rights of mankind, as well as every principle 
of the Revolution, to hold in the deepest abasement, 
in a more abject slavery than is perhaps to be found in 
any part of the world, except America, so many souls 
that are capable of the image of God. 

"We therefore think it our most bounden duty to 
take immediately some effective method to extirpate 
this abomination from among us : and for that pur- 
pose we add the following to the rules of our so- 
ciety, viz : 

'-'1. Every member of our society who has slaves 
in his possession, shall, within twelve months after 
notice given to him by the assistant, (which notice 
the assistants are required immediately, and without 
delay, to give in their respective circuits,) legally exe- 
cute and record an instrument, whereby he emanci- 
pates and sets free every slave in his possession who is 
between the ages of forty and forty-five immediately, 
or at farthest, when they arrive at the age of forty-five. 
And every slave who is between the ages of twenty- 
five and forty immediately, or at farthest, at the 
expiration of five years from the date of said instru- 
ment. And every slave who is between the ages ot 
twenty and twenty-five immediately, or at farthest, 
when they arrive at the age of thirty. 



18 



I 



214 / MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

And every slave under the age of twenty, as soon 
tliey arrive at the age of twenty-five at farthest. And 
every infant born in slavery after the above mentioned 
riiles are complied with, immediately on its birth. 

2. Every assistant shall keep a jonrnal, in which 
he shall regularly minnte down the names and agea 
of all the slaves belonging to all the masters in his 
respective circuit, and also the date of every instru- 
meut executed and recorded for the manumission of 
the slaves, with the name of the court, book, and 
folio, in which the said instruments respectively shall 
have been recorded ; which journal shall be handed 
down in each circuit to the succeeding assistants. 

3. In consideration that these rules form a new 
term of communion, every person concerned, who 
will not comply with them, shall have liberty quietly 
to withdraw himself from our society within the 
twelve months succeeding the notice given as afore- 
said : otherwise the assistant shall exclude him in the 
society. 

4. Fo person so voluntarily withdrawn, or so ex- 
cluded, shall ever partake of the supper of the Lord 
with the Methodists, till he complies with the above 
requisitions. 

5. Ko person holding slaves shall, in future, be 
admitted into society, or to the Lord's supper, till he 
previously complies with these rules concerning 
slavery. 

N. B. These rules are to affect the members of 
our society no farther than as they are consistent 
with the laws of the States in which they reside. 
And respecting our brethren in Virginia that are 



IN VIRGINIA. 215 

concerned, and after due consideration of their pecu- 
liar circumstances, we allow them two years from the 
notice given, to consider the expedience of compli- 
ance or non-compliance with these rules. 

Question 43 — What shall be done with those who 
buy or sell slaves, or give them away ? 

Answer — They are to be immediately expelled : 
unless they buy them on purpose to free them." 

Comment on these rules is unnecessary. The rea- 
der can form his own judgment. We shall soon see 
what sad efiects their publication and advocacy pro- 
duced in Virginia. 

The CoTifeTcnce adopted another measure, far dif- 
ferent from this, and every way worthy of Methodism. 
Asbury had for several years cherished the plan of an 
American Kingswood School, and for its establish- 
ment had already obtained some subscriptions from 
the wealthier Methodists. On consulting Dr. Coke 
soon after his arrival he declared in favor of a college. 
Asbury yielded his consent, and on the rise of Con- 
ference, **a plan for erecting a college" was pub- 
lished. The objects proposed were thus stated in a 
circular, signed by Coke and Asbury : 

**The college is to receive for education and board 
the sons of the Elders and Preachers of the Metho- 
dist Church, poor orphans, and the sons of the sub- 
scribers, and other friends. It will be expected that 
all our friends who send their children to the college, 
will, if they be able, pay a moderate sum for their 
education and board ; the rest will be tausrht and 
boarded, and, if our finances will allow of it, clothed, 
gratis. The institution is also intended for tl^e bene- 



216 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

fit of our young men wlio are called to preach, that 
they may receive a measure of that improvement which 
is highly expedient as a preparation for public service." 

The site selected for the College was a beautiful 
eminence, embracing six acres, about twenty-five 
miles from Baltimore. It was a charming spot. 
From every part of the hill the eye ranged over a 
variegated landscape of vast extent. The water view 
was exceedingly fine. The Chesapeake Bay, in all 
its grandeur, stretched away in one direction, till its 
blue waves seemed to blend with the distant horizon. 
From the north, the Susquehanna rolled its bright 
waters through the richest and boldest scenery. The 
area of vision from the summit of the hill was from 
thirty to fifty miles in extent. The main building 
was of brick, 108 feet long, 40 feet wide, and three 
stories high. From the roof, which could be easily 
reached, the prospect was truly magnificent. The 
enterprise was pushed forward with great vigor, and 
in December, 1787, the college was opened with a 
dedicatory sermon from Bishop Asbury on a singular, 
and as some thought, an ominous text, 2 Kings iv : 
40, " 0, thou man of God, there is death ia the 
pot." 

The institution went into operation with a board of 
instruction consisting of a president and two tutors. 
The range of studies was quite extensive, embracing 
English, Latin, Greek, Logic, Ehetoric, History, 
Geography, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. The 
Hebrew, French and German languages were to be 
added to the course whenever the finances of the 
college would justify the additional outlay. The boys 



IN VIRGINIA. 217 

were placed under the strictest regulations, drawn up 
probably by Wesley himself. All play was inter- 
dicted, and agriculture and architecture were .recom- 
mended as affordhig a better as well as a more useful 
recreation. Great care was taken in the s-election of 
suitable text books ; those that contained anything 
immodest were rigidly excluder], and only those ad- 
mitted that contained strong sense with genuine 
morality. 

The newly established seminary was christened 
*^ Cokesbury College," after the two bishops. It went 
forward with a fair prospect of success Dr. Coke 
has left us an account of a public exhibition at the 
college two years after its opening, which will give 
some idea of the mode of instruction pursued in the 
fii'st Methodist institution of learning in America. In 
May 1789, the doctor personally examined all the 
classes in private, and so well were he and Asbury 
pleased with their progress, that they determined to 
have " a public exhibition of their respective improve- 
ments and talents." It was held in the afternoon. 
Two of the boys who * ' displayed great strength of 
memory and propriety of pronunciation in the repe- 
tition of two chapters of Sheridan on Elocution, 
were rewarded by Asbury with a dollar each." One 
little fellow " dehvered memoriter a fine speech out of 
Livy with such an heroic spirit and with such grace- 
fid propriety," that Dr. Coke presented him a little 
piece of gold. To those boys who excelled in gar- 
dening, Asbury presented a dollar each. But what 
cheered the heart of these good men more than any 
thing else, was the knowledge that God was at work 
18* 



218 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

among the students, and that a number of them were 
truly awakened to the great interests of salvation. 

In 1792, the college was in a prosperous condition, 
seventy students were in its halls, the Maryland legisla- 
ture was willing to grant an act of incorporation, thus 
enabling it to confer degrees, the preachers and people 
were working for its endowment, when suddenly all 
these bright hopes vanished. The whole establish- 
ment was burned to the ground. How the fire origi- 
nated could never be ascertained. Nothing was 
saved ; the librar}- and philosophical apparatus were 
consumed, and the beautiful hill, so lately crowned 
with Cokesbury College, was covered with a pile of 
smouldering ruins. Every effort was made to dis- 
cover the incendiary, the Governor of Maryland 
offered a reward of one thousand dollars for the ap- 
prehension of the perpetrators of this foul deed. 
But it was in vain ; and who burned Cokesbury Col- 
lege still remains a mystery. 

After this calamity, Asbury determined to have 
nothing more to do with colleges. But Dr. Coke 
resolved to make another effort. By the aid of some of 
his friends in Baltimore, he purchased a large building 
in the city, and fitted it up for the reception of stu- 
dents. The new institution was soon in a flourishing 
condition, aud gave promise of greater saccess than 
had attended Cokesbury. But a similar fate awaited 
it. In 1797, it was accidentally burned down ; and 
thus ended the attempts of the Methodists to found a 
college. The total loss sustained by the burning of 
the two colleges, was not less than fifty thousand 
dollars. 



IN VIRGINIA. 219 

From this digression, let us return to the course of 
events in Virginia. Two days after the Christmas 
Conference adjourned, Asbury rode fifty miles through 
frost and snow, to Fairfax county ; the next day he 
had an exceedingly cold ride of forty miles, to Prince 
William, thence he pressed on through Warrenton 
and came to the Rappahannock, which he found fro- 
zen from side to side. He forded among the floating 
ice in a track broken by a wagon, and got over safely. 
That night he found shelter at a little ordinary; 
in the front room were a company of wagoners at 
cards ; in the next room Asbury and his companion 
held prayers, and then slept in peace. In the morn- 
ing they paid nine shillings and sixpence for the 
entertainment. He reached Henry Fry's, in Cul- 
peper, Saturday, and on the next day he read prayers, 
preached, ordained Henry Willis an Elder, and bap- 
tized several childi'en. This v^as the first ordination 
performed by Asbury in Virginia. He then passed 
rapidly on toward the South. 

In the spring of 1785 Dr. Coke visited the State 
and preached with his usual zeal. In attempting to 
cross an angry, swollen stream between Alexandria 
and Colchester, he came near losing his life. His 
horse was swept from under him, and both were car- 
ried some distance by the raging waters. The horse 
reached the shore in safety, while the Doctor lodged 
on a little island formed by the tangled roots of a tree 
which grew in the middle of the stream. Ko sooner 
had he landed here than a laro:e branch of a tree came 
down with the flood and lodged on his back. **I was 
now jammed up for a considerahle time, expecting that 



220 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

my strength would soon be exhausted and I should 
drop between the tree and the branch. Here I plead 
aloud with God in good earnest ; one promise which 
I urged I remember well ; ^ Lo, I am with you always, 
even to the end of the world.' I felt no fear at all 
at the pain of dying, or of death itself, or of hell; 
and yet I found an unwillingness to die. All my 
castles, which I had built in the air for the benefit of 
my fellow-creatures, passed in regular array before 
my mind, and I could not consent to give them up. 
It was an awful time. However, through the bless- 
ing of my Almighty preserver, I at last got up my 
knee, which I had endeavored at in vain, upon the 
tree, which I grasped, and then soon disengaged 
myself, and climbed up the little bank." Shivering 
with cold, he walked a mile to the nearest house. 
The white people were away, and were not expected 
to return that night, but an old negro man took him 
in, and lent him an * * old ragged shirt, coat, waist- 
coat, and breeches, built a large fire, and made him 
as comfortable as he could. Before bed time a man 
who had found his horse and saddle-bags brought 
them to the house, haviug tracked the Doctor from 
the creek. He was rewarded with a guinea, and 
then the weary Bishop stretched himself on a bed on 
the ground and slept souudly all night. 

TVhile the Doctor, on this tour, confined himself to 
the legitimate work of preaching Christ, he was every- 
where hailed with joy as the messenger of peace. But 
his zeal against slavery carried him beyond the bounds 
of prudence. He was now in the midst of an institu- 
tion which he detested, and his spirit was stirred 



IN VIRGINIA. 221 

within him. He must lift up his voice against it, or, 
as he conceived, be false to his sacred trust. His ar- 
dent mind was not long held in doubt. He determined 
to pass the Rubicpu, let the result be as it might. 
"While preaching in the month of April, to a crowded 
congregation, in a barn, he took occasion to refer to 
the subject of slavery and denounced it in unmeasured 
terms. Much excitement followed ; a number of 
persons withdrew from the house and determined to 
inflict summary punishment on the preacher as soon 
as he came out. It is said that one lady raged in a 
very unladylike manner, and offered the mob fifty 
pounds if they would give him one hundred lashes. 
As soon as the Doctor stepped from the door he was 
surrounded by an excited crowd, who proceeded to put 
their threats into execution. At this moment a mag- 
istrats present seized the foremost man of the party ; 
he was supported by another gentleman who bore the 
rank of colonel and who threw himself before the 
mob in an attitude of battle. Abashed by these 
demonstrations, they hesitated a moment, and in the 
lull of the storm the Doctor was borne off by his 
friends. 

The next day he preached again in the same neigh- 
borhood ; a large number of men stood round armed 
with sticks and clubs ; in silence they waited till the 
preacher should touch on the exciting question, but 
his text not leading him in that direction, or having 
learned wisdom from the scenes of the preceding 
day, he avoided the subject, and was permitted to 
leave the ground unmolested. In some sections the 
public mind was greatly exasperated against the Doc- 



222 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

tor. In one county, lie was presented before the 
grand jury and a true bill found ; and although he had 
left the county, not less than ninety persons engaged 
to pursue hira, and bring him back to justice. They 
actually started, but after a while gave over the 
chase and returned home. In another county similar 
measures were taken against him, but the bill was 
thrown aside after it reached the jury-room. 

From Virginia he passed into Korth Carolina, but 
there he observed a profound silence on the subject, 
inasmuch as the State laws forbade emancipation. At 
the Conference, however, held in that State in the 
latter part of April, a petition was drawn and pre- 
sented to the Legislature, praying the passage of an 
act allowing emancipation. Sanguine hopes were 
entertained of the success of this plan, but it ended 
in nothing. It was at this Conference, the first ever 
held in Korth Carolina, that Jesse Lee entered the 
lists, and broke a lance with Dr. Coke on the ques- 
tion of slavery. There was probably no material dif- 
ference between them as to the nature of slavery, they 
both looked on it as an evil ; but Lee regarded the 
action by which the Church sought to complete eman- 
cipation as ill-ordained and ill timed. The one looked 
only at the naked fact of slavery, the other viewed it 
in its social and political relations. The contest was 
a short one. Dr. Coke, conceiving that the opposi- 
tion of Lee to the rules of the Conference amounted 
to a justification of the system, and that he intended 
to defend it, objected to the passage of his character. 
This brought the young Virginian promptly to his 
feet with a cutting speech, in the midst of which a 



IN VIRGINIA. 223 

rade interruption from the fiery little Doctor made 
his very blood tingle. The close cf the conflict left 
them both ill at ease ; and Dr. Coke, finding he 
was wrong in the accusation and interruption, apolo- 
gized with his characteristic frankness, and both were 
friends ao^ain. 

When the Doctor again entered Yii'ginia he was 
greatly mortified to learn that it was feared his bold 
preaching against slavery might have a tendency to 
incite insurrection among the slaves. He immedi- 
ately began to enforce the duty of obedience on all 
while in a state of bondage, in terms not less strong 
than those in which he had so lately denounced the 
system. Thus, by urging the slave to obey while in 
subjection, and at the same time urging the owner to 
free him from motives of natural justice,, he hoped, hut 
vainly hoped, to preserve a sort of balance in the public 
mind. Ko plan could have been more deceptive. 
' * It was a deceitful exterior which cherished beneath 
its surface a volcano which was preparing to ex- 
plode." The explosion took place at William Mason's 
in Brunswick, where the Conference met on the 1st 
of May. Asbury's notice of the meeting is brief but 
significant : ** Rode to W. Mason's, where we are to 
meet in Conference. I found the minds of the people 
greatly agitated with our rules against slavery, and a 
proposed petition to the General Assembly for the 
emancipation of the blacks. Colonel and Doc- 
tor Coke disputed on the subject, and the Colonel 
used some threats : next day brother O'Kelly let fly 
at them, and they were made angry enough. We, 



224: MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

however, came off with whole bones, and our busi- 
ness in Conference was finished in peace. '^ 

Even this brief entry in Asbury's journal will 
give some idea of the state of feeling among the peo- 
ple. Dr. Coke furnishes more information. A great 
many of the leading men of the Church met the 
preachers at the Conference, and, urged the suspen- 
sion of the obnoxious rules. They declared that 
great uneasiness already prevailed in the societies, and 
if the preachers insisted on enforcing the new law, 
Methodism would be greatly crippled, if not utterly 
ruined. They plead earnestly, but they plead in vain. 
Coke and his friends stood firm. The rules must be 
enforced at all hazards. The contest at length 
reached it crisis.' The conference declared that they 
would withdraw the preachers from every circuit iu 
which the rules were not allowed to operate to their 
full extent. 

The people could not think of giving up the preach- 
ing of the gospel ; they must have that, even if they 
had to take with it the mandatory rules of the Con- 
ference. In sorrow they addressed a letter to the 
Conference requesting the re-appointment of the 
preachers . 

A petition was drawn up to be presented to the 
Legislature of Virginia^ praying the passage of an 
act for the immediate, or gradual emancipation of 
the slaves. A copy was given to each preacher, and 
he was instructed to obtain as many signatures aa 
possible in his circuit. 

Taking different routes at the close of this Confer- 
ence, Coke and Asbury met a few weeks after at 



IN YIRGINIA. 225 

Alexandria. While there they received an invitation 
from General Washington to visit him at Mount Ver- 
non. '*We waited on General Washington," says 
Asburj, «'who received us very politely, and gave 
us his opinion against slavery." Dr. Coke gives us a 
fuller account of the visit. <^He received us very 
politely, and was very open to access. He is quite 
the plain country gentleman. After dinner we de- 
sired a private interview, and opened to him the 
grand business on which we came, presenting to him 
our petition for the emancipation of the negroes, and 
entreating his signature, if the eminence of his posi- 
tion did not render it inexpedient for him to Bign any 
petition. On the subject of emancipation, he in- 
formed us that he was of our sentiments, and had 
signified his thoughts to most of the great men of the 
State, though he did not see it proper to sign the peti- 
tion ; but if the Assembly took the subject into con- 
sideration, he would signify his sentiments by a letter." 
Though greatly encouraged by the opinions of 
Washington, the friends of these extreme measures 
found it impossible to put them into execution with- 
out disrupting the Church. The petition went to the 
shades of oblivion before it had time to pass around 
a single circuit. One month after the bold stand 
taken m Virginia, the preachers were compelled to 
suspend the rules at a Confe:'ence at Baltimore. The 
propriety of this action even Dr. Coke admitted He 
" was the more willing to accede to it, as, being about 
to take his leave of the Continent, and return to Eng- 
land, he was anxious to leave the societies in peace " 
Ihis admission by his biographer, shows the sad 



226 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

efiects which had been produced by Dr. Coke's mis- 
taken zeal against slavery. Hardly anything could 
have been more fortunate for the peace of the Church 
than his departure at that time. He afterward, in his 
journal, acknowledged his error in preaching against 
slavery in Virginia in the face of the law. 

As a matter of mere convenience, three Confer- 
ences were held in the spring of 1785 ; the first in 
North Carolina, the second in Virginia, and the third 
at Baltimore. The business of the three Conferences 
was arranged and published as if every thing had 
been done at the same time and place. The numbers 
are not given by detail in the Minutes, but the aggre- 
gate of 18,000 members and 104 preachers, shows a 
clear gain of more than three thousand members, and 
twenty-one travelling preachers over the preceding 
year. Twenty-two preachers were received on trial ; 
three located, two had died, and one was laid aside. 
There were fifty-two circuits supplied by one hundred 
and four preachers. In Virginia twelve circuits were 
reported, taking in nearly the whole of the State ; to 
this vast field twenty-five preachers were sent. Lan- 
caster was the only new circuit added this year in 
Virginia; it embraced the whole of the Northern 
N"eck. Joseph Everett, who was appointed to this 
new field, may be called the father of Methodism in 
that portion of Virginia. No man in his day was a 
better specimen of that fearless band that composed 
the ^Hhundering legion" of Methodism. 

He was born in Maryland on the 17th of June, 
1732. His parents were members of the Established 
Church, and he was religiously educated in all the 



■ IN VIRGINIA. 227 

forms and ceremonies of that Communion. But to 
the spirit and power of religion he grew up an utter 
stranger. Many years he lived in vice and dissipa- 
tion, a bold leader among wicked men. When over 
thirty years of age, he was awakened to a sense of 
his awful condition, in the great New Light revival, as 
it was called. He was pierced through by the sword 
of the Spirit ; as his life had been extremely wicked, 
his convictions were deep and powerful. He found 
no rest day nor night ; the great deep of his heart- 
was broken up, and he set his face to seek the Lord 
in earnest. He broke off from his sinful ways, read 
the Scriptures, prayed, meditated, and by the use of all 
the means of grace within his reach, struggled to find 
pardon and peace. God heard his cries, and gave him 
deliverance. He at once united with the Presbyte- 
rians, or as they were then called, the '*I>rew Lights," 
and became a zealous Christian. But his love soon 
grew cold ; anger, pride, self-will triumphed, and he 
fell away a poor backslider. He now threw off re- 
straint, and again became openly wicked. His con- 
science still retained some sensibility, and he felt 
alarmed at his wretched condition, but the peculiar 
tenets of his religious system came to his relief. He 
thought it impossible for him to live without sin, that 
no sin would be imputed to the believer, and at 
death all guilt would be purged away. These views 
had a most pernicious effect on his heart and life. In 
this sad state he lived many years. When the Kevolu- 
tionary war broke out he entered the army and served 
a term in the militia of his native State. On his 
return home from the army he found that the Meth- 



228 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

odist preachers had visited his neighborhood. He at 
once conceived a violent hatred for them, and ar- 
rayed himself against them as an opposer and perse- 
cutor. He vented his wrath in all sorts of hard names, 
calling them deceivers, false-prophets, and urging the 
people not to listen to them. About this time Asbury 
passed through his county, and preached at various 
places. Everett was invited to go and hear him. 
He did so, and under the sermon his prejudices began 
to melt away. He went again and was more favora- 
bly impressed. He now began to attend the Metho- 
dist meetings regularly. He became concerned for 
his soul. His Methodist friends now put in his hands 
the writings of Wesley and Fletcher. He at once 
saw the vast gulf between their system and that of 
Calvinism. He became an earnest seeker of salva- 
tion and was soon healed of his backslidings. He 
joined the Methodists, and soon gave proof that God 
had called him to the work of saving souls. Everett 
had all the' elements of a powerful pioneer preacher. 
His frame was robust, he was bold as a lion; he never 
feared the face of man ; he denounced sin in ter- 
rific language ; he hurled the terrors of the Lord 
into the midst of Satan's strongholds with irresistible 
power. He moved among the churches like a flame 
of fire. He was indeed a mighty evangelist, full of 
faith and the Holy Ghost. He lived in the midst of 
revivals. His voice rung out over the hosts of Israel 
like the peal of a trumpet calling to battle. 

Sometimes, before preaching to a large crowd, he 
would divest himself of his coat and cravat, and then 
launch forth in a sermon or exhortation that thrilled 



IN VIRGINIA. 229 

every heart and brought sinners by scores and hun- 
dreds to their knees. He was ever in the front rank 
pressing on after the flying foe. Though he was 
almost fifty years old when he entered the itine- 
rancy, he displayed all the ardor of youth, and his 
vigorous constitution bore him through twenty-five 
years of active service. Five years after retiring 
from the effective roll, he rested, a war-worn veteran, 
awaiting the summons to enter and take his crown. 
It came at last and as the vision opened before him, 
he fell, shouting, '' Glory! glory ! glory !" 

The memory of Joseph Everett is blessed. 

From this Conference we may date the origin of 
the ofiice of Presiding Elder, though this title was 
not given till the Conference of 1789. This impor- 
tant ofiice had its origin in the wants of the Church. 
The Christmas Conference, as we have seen, elected 
only thirteen Elders out of the whole number of 
preachers. The only plan therefore by which they 
could supply the people with the Sacraments, was by 
districting the whole work, and appointing an Elder 
to each district, whose duty it was to visit each circuit 
in his district, quarterly ; preach, and administer the 
Sacraments. In the absence of the bishop, this offi- 
cer had the direction of all the preachers within his 
district. 

While this Conference felt constrained to suspend 
the rules on slavery, the system was denounced in the 
strongest terms. * * We do hold in the deepest abhor- 
rence the practice of slavery ; and shall not cease to 
seek its destruction by all wise and prudent means." 
This shows that the rules were suspended, not because 
19* 



230 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

of any change in the minds of the preachers on the 
vexed question, but because of the bitter feehngs 
which had been stirred up in Virginia and other por- 
tions of the work. 

In the Minutes of this Conference we find for the 
first time those brief and expressive notices of de- 
ceased preachers, which for a number of years came 
from the pen of Asbury. Among those who had 
fallen in the field of battle, was, ** George Mair, a 
man of afiliction, but of great patience and resigna- 
tion ; and of excellent understanding." In the death 
of Caleb B. Pedicord the Church lost a bright and 
shining light. He is described in three short lines 
in the Minutes ; '* a man of sorrows; and like his 
Master, acquainted with grief; but a man dead to 
the world, and much devoted to God." A freer hand 
though not a more loving heart, has described this 
devoted and useful man. 

** There was one for whom Asbury looked in vain, 
one who had been his companion in many a long and 
weary journey, one whose eloquent voice had often 
made the hearts of listening thousands 

* Thril as if an angel spoke, 

Or Ariel's finger touched the string.* 

Pedicord, the gentle spirited, the generous minded, 
the noble souled, the silver tongued Pedicord, had 
fallen, had fallen in his youth, fallen in his opening 
glory and abundant promise. Asbury looked for him 
and he was not. The grave had* closed over his 
body, and his spirit had passed to the land where only 
spirits so refined, so sensitive, so ethereal as his, find 
congenial sympathy and rest." 



IN VIRGINIA. 231 

The whole connection, Forth and South, wa3 
blessed with revivals this year, notwithstanding the 
agitation produced in the early part of it by the 
slavery rules. The suspending act restored confidence 
and kind feelings in a good degree, and both preach- 
ers and people engaged heartily in the work of relig- 
ion. " There was a great revival of religion this year," 
says Jesse Lee, ^*in most parts of the Connection. 
On the eastern shore of Maryland the work was great, 
and many souls were brought into the liberty of the 
children of God." The good work spread far to the 
southward, and new fields were continually opening 
before the reapers. The torch of truth was carried 
into many dark places by pious families who moved 
from Virginia to South Carolina and Georgia, and a 
fire was kindled which has continued to burn higher 
and brighter unto this day. 

In the latter part of this year, the indefatigable 
Asbury was again toiling through Virginia. Leaving 
Alexandria an hour before day, on a very damp morn- 
ing in E'ovember, he was seized on the road with a 
violent inflammation of the throat Benumbed with 
cold and suffering great pain, he reached near night- 
fall a miserable house, where there were no beds fit 
for use, and not a candle to be had. After waiting 
two hours for a little boiled milk, he passed a restless 
and wretched night. The next day he rode twenty- 
three miles under a high fever, the inflammation 
in his throat constantly increasing. Finding no place 
that promised him comfort, he pushed on, sick as ho 
was, passing Hanover Court House, and *^ anxious to 
get to a good lodging and amongst kind people." 



232 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

EeacMng a tolerable house, and catching a glimpse of 
the accommodations, he rode on, almost too ill to sit 
in the saddle. Calling at ^^ a petty ordinary," he 
was recommended to go to a widow Chamberlayne's 
where he would find a kind reception and comfortable 
quarters. It was now late, very cold, and ^yq weary 
miles lay between him and the place of rest ; but on 
he went. 

*^ The Lord opened the heart of this widow," he 
writes, *^and she received me under her roof; I found 
her to be a motherly woman, and to have some skill 
in my complaint." He suffered greatly till the ulcer 
in his throat broke. He was scarcely over this attack, 
when he was seized with a painful inflammation in 
his foot. In this condition he rode to the house of a 
friend in James City county, where he was compelled 
to lie by. He was not idle. Though suffering almost 
constant pain, his time was mainly spent in writing 
letters to the preachers urging collections for the Col- 
lege, and in arranging the entire Discipline under 
proper heads, divisions and sections." 

Kever did a Christian Bishop live more fully up to 
the rule he gave his preachers, '^ Be diligent. Kever 
be unemployed. Never be triflingly -employed." 

There were three Conferences in the spring of 
1786. That for "Virginia was held at Lane's Chapel 
in Sussex county, on the 10th of April. There is 
no distinction in the Minutes ; the action of the three 
bodies is combined as the action of one, and so pub- 
lished. Twenty-four preachers were received on trial, 
four located ; two had fallen in the work. Fifty-three 
circuits are put down in the Minutes, supplied by one 



IN viRaiNiA. 233 

hundred and sixteen preachers. No new circuit was 
added this year in Virginia, but several were gained 
in other portions of the work. The members for the 
year are given in detail, and for the first time the 
number of colored members is given distinct from 
the whites. The whole number of whites is put down 
at 18,791, of colored at 1,890. From Virginia, 
3,965 white members were reported, and 379 colored. 

At this Conference a call was made for missionaries 
to go to Georgia. It was at once answered by more 
than could be spared from the work in Virginia. 
Only two were finally selected, Thomas Humphries 
and John Major. They went forth in the name of 
the Lord, and were made the messengers of peace to 
thousands in that distant field. Major labored faith- 
fully two years and then fell at his post. His breth- 
ren wrote of him : ** John Major — a simple hearted 
man ; a living, loving soul, who died, as he lived, 
full of faith and the Holy Ghost ; ten years in the 
work; useful and blameless." How expressive are 
these brief obituary notices ! They speak more than 
whole pages of eulogy. 

It may be interesting to glance at the financial ope- 
rations of the Church, which are more fully recorded 
than in the Minutes of any previous Conference. The 
yearly collection for supplying the deficiencies of the 
preachers amounted to £182 6s. 6d. The contribu- 
tions toward the preachers' fund for the superannu- 
ated preachers, and the widows and orphans of preach- 
ers, were £88 5s. 4d. Out of this £14 were paid for 
the funeral expenses of Jeremiah Lambert, who died 
soon after his return from missionary service in the 



234 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

West Indies. For the first time we find tlie ques- 
tion : <* What was collected for and expended on mis- 
sionaries this year ?" Answer : £54 17s. The amount 
raised for Cokesburj College was £800 2s. lid.; there 
had been expended for the same during the year 
£1,618 14s. 2d. 

There is scarcely a trace to be found that will guide 
ns in recording the progress of Methodism in Vir- 
ginia during this year. With his usual brevity, Jesse 
Lee gives us but a single paragraph : ^* This was a 
prosperous year with our societies ; many were added 
to us, and joined among us ; and the work of the 
Lord revived in general where we labored, and in 
some places souls were gathered in by scores. Many 
of the old Christians took a fresh start, and the holy 
fire kindled and spread from heart to heart." 

From Asbury's journal we glean a few items of 
interest. He rode from the Conference to Petersburg. 
He preached, but **had a dull time." Pushing on 
northward he reached Alexandria, where he made 
the following entry: ** Hail, glorious Lord! After 
deep exercises of body and mind, I feel a solemn 
sense of God on my heart. I preached by day in the 
Court House on 1 Peter iii : 10 ; and in the evening 
at the Presbyterian Church on Luke xix : 41, 42. 
Alexandria must grow : and if religion prospers 
among them it will be blessed. I drew a plan, and 
set on foot a subscription for a meeting house." Two 
months after he was in the Valley. • This was a terri- 
ble trip for a sick man, as Asbury was nearly all his 
life. *' We have had rain," he writes, '* for eighteen 
days successively, and I have ridden about two hun- 



IN VIRGINIA. 235 

dred miles in eight or nine days ; a most trying time 
indeed." He preached at Shepherdstown, Millbttrn's, 
and other places, on his way to Winchester. 

** The Lutheran minister began a few minutes be- 
fore I got to Winchester. I rode leisurely through 
the town, and preached under some spreading trees 
on a hill, on Joshua xxiv : 19, to many white and 
black people. It was a solemn, weighty time ; all was 
seriousness and attention. I then went once more to 
Newtown ; here I preached on 2 Tim. iii : 16, 17. I 
had but little freedom in speaking. I called on Mr. 
Otterbine; we had some free conversation on the 
necessity of forming a church among the Dutch, 
holding Conferences, the order of its govern- 
ment, &c." 

Winchester was first visited by the Methodist 
preachers, probably before the close of the Eevolu- 
tionary war. Their first sermons were preached 
from the steps of the Court House. Their first 
preaching house was a small cabin; their second, was 
the residence of the grandfather of the Rev. J. Car- 
son Watson of the Virginia Conference, to whom I 
am indebted for the following incident: " When the 
Methodists first preached in Winchester, the Lutheran 
minister (of whose congregation my grandmother was 
a member,) came to her and told her that the Metho- 
dists were the false prophets, and would stand but 
two years, and forbade her permitting them to preach 
in her house. She replied, *' If they are false pro- 
phets, we will let them preach the two years." They 
proved true prophets to the family that received them 
and to hundreds of others. 



236 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The Bath Springs, in Berkeley county, were a favor- 
ite resort of Asbury ; lie received great benefit, for a 
number of years, from the use of the waters. 

In July be writes : "I came to Bath, the water 
made me sick. I took some pills, and drank chicken 
broth, and mended. I am ill in body and dispirited. 
I am subject to a headache, which prevents my read- 
ing or writing much, and have no friends here ; but 
I desire to trust the Lord with all my concerns." 
Having no appointments for several weeks, a most 
unusual thing with him, he determined to remain and 
try fully the healing virtue of the waters. His stay 
at the Springs can hardly be called rest. Though 
quite weak and considerably affected by the water, 
**he spoke in public every other night." He dealt 
faithfully with the gay crowd around him : '* I spoke 
plainly and closely in the play-house, on, ** ! wicked 
man, thou shalt surely die." He complains that the 
people conld not be induced to attend preaching, ex- 
cept on Sunday ; this he hoped to remedy by building 
a church and holding night meetings. 

The following is the last entry in his journal, before 
he left Bath : " A pleasing thought passed through 
my mind, it was this, that I was saved from the re- 
mains of sin. As yet I have felt no returns thereof. 
I have spent twenty-three days at this place of wick- 
edness." Surrounded by sin he realized the fulfil- 
ment of the promise : ** Thou wilt keep him in per- 
fect peace whose mind is stayed on thee ; because he 
trusteth in thee." 

"What a charming picture he draws of the home he 
reached after leaving **this place of wickedness." 



IN VIRGINIA. 237 

''Came to my old friend, B. Boydstone's. I had 
the happiness of seeing that tender woman, his wife, 
who careth for the preachers as for her own soul; full 
oft hath she refreshed my spirit; her words, looks and 
gestures, appear to be heavenly." Bat here with 
friends so dear and congenial, he could make no stay. 
*' Arise and depart for this is not your rest," was the 
command, and he was soon in the saddle pressing to 
the Korth. 

In Few York he fell sick and was confined to his 
room for eight days. We shall be pardoned for in- 
troducing the reader into the sick room : * * I was 
taken ill, and was confined about eight days, during 
which time I was variously tried and exercised in 
mind. 1 spent some time in looking over my jour- 
nals which I have kept for fifteen years back. Some 
things I corrected, and some I expunged. Perhaps, 
if they are not published before, they will be after 
my death, to let my friends and the world see how I 
havd employed my time in America. I feel the worth 
of souls, and the weight of the pastoral charge, and 
that the conscientious discharge of its important du- 
ties requires something more than human learning, 
unwieldy salaries, or clerical titles of D. D., or even 
bishop. The eyes of all, both preachers and people, 
will be opened in time." 

In January, 1787, Asbury was again in Virginia. 
** We rode near fifty miles on our way to Westmore- 
land ; next day by hard riding, we came to Pope's, 
in Westmoreland, but I have not been more weary 
many times in my life." At a quarterly meeting in 

20 



238 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Ihe IsTorthern Keck ** many simple and loving testi- 
monies were delivered in the love-feast." 

Eiding through the snow to Fairfield, he found 
trouble brewing. *'Here a captain K. had turned the 
people out of the barn in which worship was held, and 
threatened to take Brother Paup to jail if he did not 
shgw his authority for preaching ; after all this vapor- 
ing of the gallant Captain, when the afiair was brought 
before the court, Captain R. found it convenient to 
ask pardon of our brother, although he sat on the 
bench in his own cause ; so the mattter ended. The 
Lord is at work in the Neck ; more than one hun- 
dred have been added to the Society since Conference, 
who are a simple, loving, tender people." At a 
Presbyterian Meeting House in Lancaster, he " deliv- 
ered a very rough discourse ; it was a close and 
searching time ;" many, both white and black, re- 
ceived the Sacrament. He had a crowd of careless 
sinners at Mrs. Ball's, a **famous heroine for Christ." 
•'^ A lady came by craft, and took her from her own 
house, and with tears, threats and entreaties, urged 
her to desist from receiving the preachers, and Meth- 
odist preaching ; but all in vain. She had felt the 
sting of death, some years before, and was a most 
disconsolate ,soul ; but having found the way, she' 
would not depart therefrom." 

From the Keck he went on towards Gloucester. 
He writes : " Cold times in religion in this circuit, 
compared with the great times we have had in Lan- 
caster." 

Thence he passed on, preaching at Yorktown, 
Williamsburg, Craney Island, Portsmouth and inter- 



IN VIRGINIA. 239 

mediate points. His route now lay toward N'orth 
Carolina. '* Brother Poythress," lie writes, **fright- 
ened me with the idea of the great swamp, the east 
end of the Dismal ; but I conld not consent to ride 
sixty miles round ; so we ventured through, and nei- 
ther we nor our horses received any injury. Praise 
the Lord ! Our passing unharmed through such 
dangers and unhealthy weather, feelingly assures me 
that I am kept by the immediate interposition of his 
providence." 

The Virginia Conference for 1787 assembled at the 
house of William White, near Kough Creek Church, 
in Charlotte county, on the 19th of April. Dr. Coke 
was present, having recently arrived from the West 
Indies, whither he had been driven by a terrible storm 
while on his second voyage from England. "We 
had much preaching," says Asbury, ^ ^morning, noon 
and night, and some souls were converted to God." 

On Sunday Dr. Coke preached on the qualifications 
of a deacon, to a vast congregation of three thousand 
persons. We have no means of ascertaining what 
measures this Conference recommended or adopted, 
beyond the record in the general Minutes. The sta- 
tistics we give show what was done at the three Con- 
ferences of the year. Thirty-five preachers were 
admitted on trial ; ten desisted from travelling ; one 
had died. 

The returns of members for the whole Connection 
amounted to 21,949 whites, and 3,893 blacks. Of 
these there were in Virginia 7,274 whites, and 645 
colored members ; the increase was 3,300 whites and 
265 blacks. There were sixty-three circuits in all, 



240 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

supplied by one hundred and thirty-three preachers. 
Three new circuits were formed in Virginia ; Green- 
brier and Bath in the central, and Ohio in the north- 
western portion of the State. 

This year died Eichard OwiDgs, the first American 
Methodist preacher. He was awakened and converted 
in Maryland, under the preaching of Robert Straw- 
bridge. He was licensed as a local preacher, and 
though burdened with the cares of a large family, la- 
bored with great zeal and success in planting Meth- 
odism in Virginia and Maryland, before the entrance 
of the regular itinerants. He often prepared plans 
and led the way for enlarging the old, and forming 
new circuits in different portions of the work. 

The notice of his death in the Minutes gives a 
short bat expressive eulogy. ^* Though he had charge 
of a large family, he labored much in the w^ord and 
doctrines ; travelling for weeks and months in the 
back settlements in the infancy of the work. He was a 
man of honest heart, plain address, good utterance 
and sound judgment." In company with John Ha- 
gerty, he planted Methodism in the Valley of Vir- 
ginia. The following is from '^Kercheval's History 
of the Valley." 

'' About the year 1775 (more probably about 1780) 
two travelling strangers called at the residence of the 
late Major Lewis Stephens, the proprietor and founder 
of the town now distinguished in the mail establish- 
ment as * Newtown Stephensburg,' and inquired if 
they could obtain quarters for the night. Major 
Stephens happened to be absent ; but Mrs. Stephens, 
who was remarkable for hospitality and rehgious im- 



IN VIRGINIA. 241 

pressions, informed them that they could be accom- 
modated. One of them observed to her : * We are 
preachers, and to-morrow being the Sabbath, we shall 
have to remain with you until Monday morning, as 
we do not travel on the Sabbath.' To which the old 
lady replied : ^ If you are preachers, you are the more 
welcome.' " 

John Hagerty and Eichard wings were the names 
of the preachers. The next mormng notice was sent 
through the town, and the straogers delivered sermons. 
This was doubtless the first Methodist preaching ever 
heard in our Valley, It is said they travelled east of 
the Blue Ridge before they reached Stephensburg, 
on a preaching tour, and probably crossed the Eidge 
at some place south of Stephensburg. 

A number of the people were much pleased with 
them, and they soon got up a small church at the 
place. The late John Hite, Jr., his sister, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Hughes, John Taylor and wife, Lewis Stephens, 
Sr., and wife, Lewis Stephens, Jr., and wife, and sev- 
eral others joined the church, and in a few years it 
began to flourish." 

Several years before his death, Eichard Owingsgave 
himself wholly to the work of the ministry. His 
last field of labor was Fairfax circuit. For more than 
half the year he labored with success, and then fell at 
his post like a true soldier. Leesburg is the place 
from which the spirit of the first American Methodist 
preacher took its flight to heaven. 

The churches were blessed this year with an extra- 
ordinary revival of rehgion. ** The heavenly flame," 
Bays Jesse Lee, ** spread greatly in various directions. 



242 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Such a time for the awakening of sinners was never 
seen before among the Methodists in America." The 
work was most powerful in the southern counties in 
Virginia. It broke out in mid-summer, and con- 
tinued through the year. The whole country between 
the James and Boanoke Rivers, and from the Blue 
Ridge to the sea, was swept by the flame of revival. 
The strong men in the field, were Bruce, O'Xelly, 
Ogburn, Cox, Easter and Hope Hull, each one a 
tower of strength ; they were men of great powers 
of endurance, mighty in prayer, full of faith and the 
Holy Ghost. 

Petersburg felt the presence of the Spirit in a won- 
derful manner. The town had never before been so 
shaken by divine power. Kever had the people seen 
such manifestations of the presence of God in their 
midst. Prayer meetings were held in the town and 
in the adjacent country, and the simple exhortations ' 
of the Christians were as signally blessed as the most 
powerful sermons. Scarcely a meeting was held, 
where souls were not converted. The members took 
hold of the work in earnest, and while the preachers 
were away in other parts of the field, they pushed on 
the battle with glorious success. Powerful as was 
the work here, it was far greater in Brunswick and 
Sussex. The meetings in those circuits were fre- 
quently continued without intermission for ^ve or six 
hours, and sometimes through the whole night. So 
great was the concern of the people that they could 
hardly be persuaded to seek necessary repose. 

At a Quarterly Meeting held at Mabry's Chapel in 
Brunswick circuit, the power of God fell on the 



IN VIRGINIA, 243 

vast multitude like fire from heaven. Hundreds were 
awakened and fell to the ground with strong cries 
and tears. The meeting lasted but two days, and yet 
above one hundred souls were converted. Two days 
after another meeting was held at Jones' Chapel in 
Sussex county, where the display of Almighty power 
was still more signal and awful. The excitement 
exceeded anything that had ever been seen. Scores 
of young converts from the meeting at Mabry's 
gathered here and spread the holy fire among the 
people. The work began before the preachers 
reached the spot. Groups of Christians might be 
seen here and there under the trees embracing each 
other, some weeping aloud, others in silent ecstasy, 
and others praising God with all their might. The 
sinners that stood around gazed on the scene in silent 
awe, then wept, then trembled, then fell to the earth 
and cried for mercy. The sight of the prostrate 
mourners was enough to pierce the hardest heart. 
When the preachers were within half a mile they 
heard the voice of the multitude shouting and prais- 
ing God. "When they came nearer they heard sobs and 
cries mingling with the shouts of triumph. **When 
we came to the Chapel," says Philip Cox, <' above 
sixty were down on the floor, groaning in loud cries 
to God for mercy." The preachers immediately 
went among the mourners, comforting and encour- 
aging them. The scene was truly awful. On every 
side lay the slain of the Lord. Some struggled as in 
the agonies of death, others lay motionless as if already 
dead. Among the mourners lay scores of believers, 
utterly helpless, overcome by the power of God. 



244 



MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



Many remained in this state for hours together, and 
when they came to themselves, it was with loud praises 
to God. Such a time had never been seen by the 
oldest saints. Thus the first day closed. The next 
morning the Society met at an early hour to partake 
of the Communion. During this solemn feast, some 
of the preachers went out of the house, and preached 
to the vast throng in the forest. While they spoke, 
the power of God came down among the people in a 
wonderful manner. So loud was the cry of the con- 
victed, that the preachers could not be heard. 

"Writing of the scenes of this day, Cox says : **It 
is thought our audience consisted of no less than five 
thousand on the first day, and the second of twice 
that number. We preached to them in the open air, 
and in the chapel, and in the barn by brother Jones' 
house at the same time. Here were many of the 
first quality in the county, wallowing in the dust with 
their silks and broadcloths, powdered heads, rings and 
ruffles, and some of them so convulsed that they could 
neither speak nor stir." 

The work went on vdth increasing power through 
the day. E'ight came on, but still the work increased. 
The mourners were collected in the house, and Chris- 
tians labored with renewed zeal to instruct and com- 
fort them. **Many of the penitents were in the most 
awful distress, and uttered such doleful lamentations 
that it was frightful to behold them, and enough to 
affect the most stubborn hearted sinner. But m.any 
of these were filled with the peace and love of God 
in a moment, and rising up would clap their hands 



IN VIRGINIA. 245 

and praise God aloud. It was then as pleasing, as it 
bad before been awful, to behold them." 

Among the converts were many who had come 
only to ridicule the work of God. They were loud 
and stout in their opposition to this, to them, new 
way of saving souls. In a moment, while they were 
looking on, many such persons were stricken to the 
earth under powerful conviction, and converted in a few 
hours, and returned home clothed and in their right 
minds. '* So mightily did the Lord work," says Jesse 
Lee, ^^ that a great change was wrought in a little 
time." Two hundred and fifty souls were converted 
during this meeting. 

Not long after a meeting of great power was held 
at Mr. F. Bonners, not far from Petersburg. In one 
day fifty souls were converted. The cries of distress 
and the shouts of joy were heard afar off. Here 
again many proud and careless scoffers fell beneath 
the power of the truth, were converted and went home 
rejoicing in Christ. At Jones' Hole Church, twelve 
miles from Petersburg, similar scenes were witnessed. 
The people gathered early in the day. The exercises 
began with singing, exhortation, and prayer. The 
Lord moved among them in power, and before the 
preachers reached the church, many were penitent, 
and some had found peace. The peopl^ could hardly 
be persuaded to listen to a sermon. The voice of the 
preacher was swept away amid sobs, and prayers, and 
shouts. An earnest appeal to them to be calm and 
listen to the word of life, restrained for a while the tor- 
rent of feeling ; but toward the close of the sermon, and 
as the speaker began to apply the truth to their con- 



246 MEMOEIAliS OP METHODISM 

sciences, it broke fortli again with irresistible power. 
The flame swept through the house, and hundreds 
were deeply affected. ** Some prayed as if they were 
going to take the kingdom by violence, others cried 
for mercy as if they were dropping into eternal 
misery, and some praised God with all their strength, 
till they dropped down helpless on the floor." In 
every direction convicted sinners were calling on the 
Lord for mercy ; some kneeled, others lay in the arms 
of their friends ; many too weak to kneel or stand, 
lay stretched on the floor, while some were convulsed 
with every limb stiff and rigid. In the midst of this 
scene the floor of the house gave way with a loud 
crash and sunk down several inches, but was unheard 
or unheeded. Ko one was injured, and many knew 
nothing of the accident until the meeting closed. 
Great was the triumph of that day. Many souls 
were brought to God, Sinners that refused to yield 
were struck with awe at the conversion of their 
friends and neighbors, and few left the ground with- 
out wounds from the arrows of the Almighty. Great 
as was the revival of 1776, this far exceeded it. In- 
deed, nothing like it had ever been seen or heard of 
in Virginia. Eight hundred were converted in Amelia 
circuit, sixteen hundred in Sussex, and eighteen hun- 
dred in Brunswick. The work was greatest- in these 
circuits, but it was not confined to them ; in many other 
circuits the revival was powerfully felt, and hundreds 
of souls were added to the church. Many meetings 
were held all over the Southside country, equal in 
power and results to those we have described. The 
outpouring of the Spirit was general, l^ot alone at 



IN VIRGINIA. 247 

the great gatherings, where the preachers met thou- 
sands of eager hearers, was the Lord present to kill 
and to make alive. On all occasions, great and small, 
the glory of Israel's God appeared. While Philip 
Cox was preaching the funeral of a little child on the 
text: ** Except ye be converted and become as 
little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of 
heaven," to a congregation of a hundred, ** fifty of 
whom were old professors, out of the other fifty the 
Lord spoke peace to thirty before the meeting broke 
up." Cox, having been lamed by an accident, 
preached this sermon sitting on a table. The next 
day he preached again in the woods, sitting in a chair 
placed on a table, and more than sixty souls were con- 
verted. But it mattered little whether preachers 
were with the people or not. In prayer-meetings, in 
class-meetings, in little social gatherings, where two 
or three met in the name of Christ, Christians were 
made happy and sinners converted. 

It was not uncommon to hear of persons being 
converted while at work in their houses, or while 
plowing in the fields. Often would they gather, white 
and black, from adjoining corn-fields, and begin to 
sing, pray and exhort ; the sound would call others 
from more distant places, imtil scores were assembled 
and the exercises continued until many found peace, 
and returned with gladness of heart to their daily toiL 

The genuineness of this great work ** received a 
thousand attestations in the altered lives, persevering 
fidelty, and increasing holiness of those who were 
brought from darkness unto light, and from the power 
of Satan unto God." 



248 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

In the spring of 1788, tlie revival still progressed 
in many places. Jesse Lee, v^ho liad been travelling 
a circuit in Maryland, made a visit to Virginia ia 
March, and has left ns a few facts of much interest. 
In Petersburg he preached to a large company, on 
the words, **For what shall it profit a man, if he 
shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul ?" 
*'I felt," he writes, *^ great liberty in speaking, and 
the hearers were much aftected ; from the be^nning 
there were many silent tears shed. Before I was 
done the power of God was manifested among us. 
One woman dropped from her seat like a person struck 
dead; but in a little while she was enabled to rise and 
praise a sin-pardoning God aloud ; and many shouted 
for joy. I observed a woman, finely dressed, just at 
my right hand, who trembled and shook as though 
she had an ague. At length she stood up, and I ex- 
pected every moment to see her drop down in the 
place where she stood. In a little time, a young 
woman came and took hold of her, and they both fell 
down on their knees together. The young woman 
began to pray aloud for the mourner. In a little time 
another young woman came, and kneeling down 
prayed with all her might. By this time there were 
several crying aloud, and the house rang with the 
cries of the people, both men and women. I began 
to weep myself, and was forced to stop preaching. In 
a little time the woman near me, for whom the young 
women were praying, was enabled to rise and praise God 
for having pardoned her sins. Cries and groans were 
heard in every part of the house. I could not help 
praising God aloud among the people. Many careless 



IN YIRGINIA. 249 

Binners were cut to the heart. Such a p owerf ul meetin g 
I have not seen for a long time ; and blessed be God, 
I not only saw it but I felt it also." 

This simple picture will give an idea of the meet- 
ings that were held all over the country. The inci- 
dents that attended this great outpouring were often 
of the most startling character. 

At a meeting, where fifty souls were converted, 
* *three daughters of one Jesse Lee, a Baptist preacher, 
(uncle to Jesse Lee, our preacher,) were down in the 
floor, crying to God to deliver them. Their brother 
came in, and got one the daughters up to carry her 
out, swearing that she should not expose herself 
there ; but before he got her out of the house, the 
Lord exposed him, striking him to the floor and con- 
straining him to cry ** Save, or I sink into hell !" 

Jesse Lee has given his view and his vindication of 
this work, which was naturally attended with much 
excitement. 

Writing of his visit to Virginia, he says: *'I surely 
have cause to bless and praise God that I came to 
Virginia this spring, to see my old friends. But such 
a change in any people I never saw. There are many 
of the young converts that are as bold, zealous, and 
as solemn as old Christians. There are but few, 
either men or women, boys or girls, but will pray 
when called upon, and sometimes without being asked. 
I have never seen anything more like taking the 
kingdom by violence than this. I have no doubt but 
many will say this is not of God, for God is not the 
author of confusion. But I answer it must be ol 
God ; for the people are justified, and many are 
21 



250 MEMOKIALS OF METHODISM 

/ 
sanctified ; and the devil cannot do this. But some 

will say, so much noise cannot be of God ; but the 

Lord has by this means awakened and converted 

many that w-ere careless before. Let the Lord work 

his own way. It is clear that the Lord has his way 

in the whirlwind. If we could have all the good, 

without the confusion, if such there be, it would be 

desirable ; but if not, Lord send the good, though it 

should be with double the confusion. We are too 

apt to say, ' ' Lord prosper thy work, by this or that 

means." But, if we pray for the work to revive, let 

this be our cry, **Lord make use of some means to 

save the people," and let him work his own way. If 

souls can be converted, I will be contented." 

To this brief, common-sense view of the work of 
God every sincere Christian must agree. 

In the year 1788, seven Conferences were held. 
They began at Charleston, South Carolina, on the 
12th of March, and ended at Philadelphia, on the 
25th of September. The Conference for Virginia 
proper, assembled at Petersburg on the 17th of June. 
It was the first sesion ever held in that town. 

Jesse Lee informs us that the Conference was ap- 
pointed at Benjamin Crawley's, in Amelia, but on 
account of afiliction in his family, it was removed to 
Petersburg. Asbury refers to this Conference with 
his usual brevity. ^' Our Elders and Deacons met for 
Conference. All things were brought on in love. 
The town folks w^ere remarkably kind and attentive ; 
[has not the same verdict been given by the preach- 
ers ever since ?] the people of God in much love. I 
preached a pastoral sermon, under a large arbor, near 



IN VIRGINIA. 251 

the borders of tlie town, on 1 Timothy, iv : 13-16, 
with considerable consolation. Ordained Henry 
Ogbum and John Baldwin, deacons, and Edward 
Morris and Ira ElUs, elders." 

The returns of members amounted to 9,410 whites 
and 1,832 blacks ; the increase was over 2,000 white 
and nearly 1,200 colored members. The Minutes 
show the combined action of all the Conferences. 
Forty-eight were received on trial ; three desisted 
from travelling ; six were under partial location on 
account of their families, but were subject to the 
order of the Conference; four faithful men had fallen 
from the ranks, and entered upon the rest of heaven . 
Of Elijah Ellis, who closed his life and labors in Lan- 
caster circuit it was said, ^* a deacon four years in the 
work ; steady, humble, diligent and faithful, who 
spent himself in the work of God in Lancaster, Vir- 
ginia." 

Among the young preachers received this year into 
the regular work, Virginia gave a number, most of 
whom filled a useful, and some a brilliant place in 
the history of the Church. 

Bennett Maxey, Henry Birchett, John Lee, Ste- 
phen Davis, Valentine Cook and William McKendree, 
are names that will ever hold a prominent place 
among the heroes of Methodism. 

The race of some of these holy men soon closed, 
but their influence and example did not die. Birch- 
ett, Lee and Davis ended their useful lives in the full 
maturity of their strength, willing martyrs to the 
cause of Christ. Maxey, beloved and venerated, ex- 
tended his labors far into the present century. For 



252 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

more than thirty years Cook was a powerful and effi- 
cient preacher. The name of McKendree is an oint- 
ment poured forth through all the horders of Meth- 
odism. 

Valentine Cook was born in Pennsylvania, but was 
reared in the ** Greenbrier Country," now Monroe 
county, Virginia, to which his father removed when 
be was very young. He was a lad of quick and vig- 
orous mind ; but in the wild country where he lived, 
the means of instruction were very limited. The 
schools were scarce, and the teachers indifferent. He 
however, acquired the rudiments of a common Eng- 
lish edacation, and made some progress in the Ger- 
man laiiguage. His moral principles were strong and 
his habits correct. Like most young men in a coun^ 
try abounding with game, he had a passion for hunting. 
Every spare hour from the school or the farm, found 
him roaming the forests with his dogs and his rifle. 
Many a night he spent in the woods, far from the set- 
tlements, sleeping surrounded by his trusty hunzting 
dogs, and that too, when the savages yet lurked on 
the,borders of those frontier counties. In the sketch 
of his life, by Dr. Stevenson, the following narrative 
of one of his early adventures with Indians, is given 
from the pen of his son. 

''A party of Indians, as it was supposed, had 
stolen some of my grandfather's horses. My father, 
young as he then was, determined to attempt their 
recovery. Without consulting his father, brothers, 
or any one else, he set out, single-handed and alone, 
on their trail. He had not proceeded far, however, 
before he discovered the horses carefully tied up in a 



IN VIRGINIA. 253 

dense thicket. After looking about for sometime 
with his rifle in hand, cocked, primed, and ready 
to fire at a moment's warning, but neither seeing nor 
hearing anything that indicated the presence of In- 
dians he walked directly up to the horses, and having 
set his rifle against a neighboring tree, he began to 
untie them. While thus employed, an Indian sud- 
denly sprang from the bushes in the direction of his 
gun. They both seized it at the same moment. The 
struggle was fearful — life or death depended on the 
issue ! But when on the eve of getting the mastery 
and securing his rifle, a second Indian made his ap- 
pearance and soon a third. Finding himself com- 
pletely overpowered, he yielded at once, and surren- 
dered himself to their hands with as much ap- 
paren t cheerfulness as he was able to command. After 
carefully surveying him from head to foot, laying 
their hands on his long black suit of hair, and look- 
ing him full in the face for some time, one of the 
most elderly of the party exclaimed, * Booh !' and 
added, * Indian! young Indian!' The whole com- 
pany then retired a few paces from him, and after a 
brief interview, they returned. Those were moments 
of awful suspense. My father's fate was sealed as he 
verily supposed ; and with his heart lifted up to God 
in prayer, he endeavored, as best he could, to resign 
himself to the issue, whatever it might be ; but to 
his utter astonishment and inexpressible joy, they 
handed him the end of the rope with which the 
horses were tied, and said in broken English, ^' In- 
dian won't kill Indian boy!' They then kindly 
assisted him in adjusting the horses, and when ready 



254 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

to start, bade him as he understood it, an affectionate 
* fare-well,' and committed him to the guidance and 
protection of the * Great Spirit.' My father always 
believed, that from his very dark complexion, and 
singularly straight, coarse, black hair, the Indians 
were of the opinion that he might, perhaps, belong to 
their own race." 

Young Cook's love of the wild, free life of a hunter, 
did not entice him wholly from his studies. He kept 
the improvement of his mind steadily in view, and a 
portion of his time was strictly devoted to the study 
of such books as he could command. 

In his small library the Bible was the central vol- 
ume. This he read with eagerness and prayerful 
attention. His memory became stored with many of 
its richest passages, and in after life, he could read- 
ily repeat entire chapters, memorised long before his 
conversion. 

To this diligent searching of the Scriptures, he 
added fervent prayer, day and night, for the pardon 
of his sins. He was an earnest seeker of salvation, 
though groping in darkness. 

At this time a Methodist preacher entered the 
frontier field in which he lived, and preached with 
zeal and success. 

A general excitement soon followed ; some em- 
braced his views ; many opposed them ; young Cook 
received him as the messenger of God, and soon be- 
came a bold defender of this *^ new religion," as it 
was contemptously called. He met with strong oppo- 
sition, not only from his young associates, but from 
his own family. His parents protested and threat- 



IN VIRGINIA. 255 

ened, but nothing daunted, the young disciple held 
on his way. He defended his views with so much 
ability and in so kind a spirit, that his family yielded 
their opposition and left him to pursue the path he 
had chosen. He now fell into doubts and under the 
heaviest discouragements he was tempted to give up 
all hope of finding pardon. For several months 
he was tossed and buffeted by the adversary. Amid 
all these fears, there came on his mind the solemn 
conviction that he should do something toward the 
salvation of his father's family. He opened his mind 
to an elder brother, and they determined to propose 
to the old gentleman the establishment of family 
worship. To their great joy, he not only consented 
but promised to give them his assistance. Most of 
the family, and many of the neighbors were soon 
after converted, and the house of Valentine Cook 
soon became a *' house of prayer." 

Soon after the opening of Cokesbury College, 
Valentine, Jr., was entered as a student. He had 
already given much promise of usefulness, and his 
character was already marked by a deep and earnest 
piety. How long he remained at the College, is not 
known, but it is certain that while there he formed 
those habits of close thought, which distinguished 
him in after life. 

For ten years, Valentine Cook was one of the most 
efficient of our pioneer preachers. I^o abler defender 
of the doctrines of the Bible as taught by Methodism 
could be found in the ranks of the itinerancy. He 
was mighty in the pulpit, and in prayer he was like 
Israel, prevailing with God. 



256 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

He is thus described by one wtio Knew Mm : **Yal- 
entine Cook was slightly above the medium height 
and size. There was no symmetry in his figure ; his 
limbs being disproportionately long, seemed more like 
awkward appendages than well fitted parts of a per- 
fect whole. He was what is called stoop-shouldered, 
to such a degree that his long neck projected from 
between his shoulders almost at aright angle with the 
perpendicular of his chest. His head, which was of pe- 
culiar formation, being much longer than usual from 
the crown to the poiut of the chin, seemed rather sus- 
pended to, than supported by the neck. A remarka- 
bly low forehead, smallj'deeply sunken hazel eyes, a 
prominent Roman nose, large mouth, thin lips, a dark, 
sallow complexion, coarse black hair, with here and 
there a thread of gray, formed a tout ensemble, in 
which nature seemed to have paid no regard to order, 
strength, or beauty." 

The same writer thus describes him as a preacher : 
** As the shadows of the night descended, the people 
from town and country began to assemble; and 
though the rain was descending in torrents, every 
apartment of the house was soon filled to overflow- 
ing. The hour for preaching arrived, Mr. Cook took 
his position in the entry, by a small table, upon which 
lay the ' Old Family Bible.' Resting his hand reve- 
rently on that blessed volume, he commenced repeat- 
ing, in a somewhat indistinct undertone, the affecting 
hymn beginning with 

* In evil long I took delight, 
Unawed by shame or fear, 
Till a new object struck my sight 
And stopped my wild career,* 



IN VIRGINIA. 257 

Before he reached the last stanza his voice had be- 
come perfectly clear, and so pathetic and impressive, 
that many faces were suffused with tears. After 
reading the hymn, he raised the tune himself, and 
the audience united with him in the delightful exer- 
cise of singing. The prayer which followed, was 
simple, solemn and affecting. On rising from hia 
knees, he straightened himself up, and after looking 
round upon the congregation a few moments, without 
opening the Bible, on which his right hand again 
rested, he announced as his text, Mai. iv: 1 : * For 
behold the day cometh.' It is impossible to give 
more than an imperfect outline of the discourse. 
Man's responsibility to God was the leading thought. 
In the commencement he dwelt at some length upon 
the all-pervading presence of him with whom we have 
to do. Never, until then had I been so deeply impressed 
with the fact that God was all around me, above me, 
beneath me, within me. The sinfulness of sin and its 
dreadful consequences, were portrayed in language 
and imagery most powerful and startling. I felt per^ 
suaded that no unconverted sinner, not wholly given 
up to hardness of heart and reprobacy of mind, could 
listen to that discourse without exclaiming in the bit- 
terness of his anguish, ' The arrows of the Almighty, 
are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my 
spirit ; the terrors of God do set themselves in array 
against me.' I could distinctly hear the partially 
suppressed groans and prayers that rose from differ- 
ent parts of the house. 

In conclusion the great remedial scheme was brought 
to view. Jesas, with garments rolled in blood, was 



258 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

announced as the only hope of a ruined world. 
We saw and felt, as if under the clear light of heaven 
itself, how God could be just through the intervention 
and sacrificial death of his Son, and yet the justifier of 
penitent believing sinners. The ability and willing- 
ness of Almighty God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, 
and him crucified, to save — to save now — ^to the utter- 
most and forever — were presented in such strains of 
simple, fervent, loving, melting eloquence, that the 
entire assembly was roused, excited, and over- 
whelmed. Some were pale with fear ; others radiant 
with hope. Prayer and praises, cries and songs, were 
loudly commingled. While the wail of awakened 
sinners was heard in various parts of the house, from 
other directions came the shouts of rejoicing saints. 
The midnight watch had come and gone before the 
people could be induced to leave the strangely conse- 
crated place." 

Many instances are recorded of Cook's faith and 
power with God in prayer. The following is a signal 
case. The leader of the class to which his family 
belonged was taken very ill. " My husband," says 
Mrs. Cook, *^ was with him most of the time, and 
was greatly distressed on his account. The case was 
at length pronounced hopeless by his physicians. Mr. 
Cook coming into the room when it was supposed the 
sick man was actually dying, approached his bed, and 

said to him in a distinct tone of voice, 'Brother G , 

do you know me?' *0 yes,' was the reply. *Do 
you desire,' said he, ' that we continue to pray for 
your recovery?' ^I leave that,' said the afflicted 
man, *to you and them.' He then walked into the 



IN VIRGINIA. 259 

room where the physicians were in consultation. 
< What,' said he, ' is the conclusion ? Must brother 

^ die at this time V ' He must without the in 

tervention of Almighty power,' was the reply. « Well 
then,' said Mr. Cook, ' I'll go to Him in whose hands 
are the issues of life and death. I shall file two 
pleas for his restoration ; the one on account of his 
family, and the other on behalf of the Church.' He 
then retired to the woods. In less than an hour he 
returned, and was told that there was no change for 
the better. He again retired, and did not return till 
some time after dark. "When he entered the sick 

man's room, he exclaimed, 'Brother G , the 

Lord has heard our prayers : your life will be pro- 
longed for the sake of the Church and your family.' 
He immediately left for home, declining to exchange 
a single word with any one as he retired. In less 

than a week. Brother G was walking about his 

room." 

During a camp-meeting in Kentucky, "While 
Mr. Cook was preaching on these words, ' Because 
there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with a 
stroke ; then a great ransom cannot deliver thee,' a 
gentleman arose in the congregation, and exclaimed 
under great excitement, ' Stop ! stop, till I can get 
out of this place !' Mr. Cook immediately paused 
and said, ' Let us pray for that man.' The gentle- 
man started from his place, but just as he reached 
the outskirts of the assembly, he sank to the earth and 
began to cry aloud for mercy." 

After ten years hard service as a travelling preach- 
er, Cook married and settled in the state of Kentucky. 



260 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

He spent his days in the cultivation of a small farm^ 
in teachings for which he was well qualified, and in 
preaching with unabated zeal and success. In the 
"West, his memory is cherished by thousands, who 
will rise in the last day and call him blessed. 

The name of William McKendree is the brighest 
that appears, this year on the rolls of Methodism, 
He was born in King William county, July 6, 1757. 
Of his early history very little is known. It is said 
that when quite young he became seriously impressed 
by reading the bible at school, but having no compe- 
tent instructors, he grew up without the experimental 
knowledge of religion. When nearly twenty years 
old he heard a Methodist preacher for the first time. 
Deeply convinced of sin, he sought connection with 
the Society and was received as a seeker of religion. 
By a free intercourse with the gay and careless he lost 
his concern, and became in a great measure indiffer- 
ent to the welfare of his soul. He retained, how- 
ever, the form of religion., though he had never fully 
known its power. He served in the army of the 
Kevolution, and it is supposed attained the rank of 
adjutant, but whether he was ever in battle is not 
certainly known. During the great revival of 1787, he 
lived in the bounds of Brunswick circuit, where he 
had the privilege of hearing that great evangelist, 
John Easter. Writing of these times he says : 

*' My convictions were renewed. They were deep 
and pungent. The great deep of the heart was bro- 
ken up. Its deceit and desperately wicked nature 
was disclosed, and the awful, eternally ruinous con- 
sequences, clearly appeared. My repentance was 



IN VIRGINIA. 261 

Bincere. I became willing, and was desirous to be 
saved on any terms. After a sore and sorrowful 
travail of three days, which were employed in hearing 
Mr. Easter, and in fasting and prayer, while the man 
of God was showing a large congregation the way of 
salvation by faith, with a clearness which at once 
astonished and encouraged me, I ventured my all 
upon Christ. In a moment my soul was relieved of 
a burden too heavy to be borne, and joy instantly suc- 
ceeded sorrow. For a short space of time I was 
fixed in silent adoration, giving glory to God for his 
unspeakable goodness to such an unworthy creature." 

Having obtained the blessing of pardon, he pressed 
on to a higher region of Christian experience. The 
doctrine of holiness was then faithfully preached by 
the Methodist ministry, and thousands attested the 
power af Christ to save from all sin. 

McKendree reached this happy state, and thus 
describes it ; * ' Eventually I obtained deliverance from 
unholy passions, and found myself possessed of abil- 
ity to resist temptation, to take up and bear the cross, 
and to exercise faith and patience, and all the graces 
of the Spirit in a manner before unknown." He 
now began to be impressed with the thought that he 
must preach. He dreaded the fearful responsibility 
of the work. Great was the conflict between his 
feelings and his sense of duty. He unbosomed him- 
self to John Easter, and for a while continued with 
him on the circuit ; but he was soon overcome by his 
fears and returned home. 

Still the conviction followed him ; he found no 
peace, and at length he resolved to offer himself to 
22 



262 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the Conference. He was accepted, and sent to the 
Mecklenburg circuit. As it is always a privilege to 
hear such a man speak, we shall give his own narra- 
tive : * ' I went immediately to the circuit to which I 
was appointed relying more on the judgment of ex- 
perienced ministers, in whom I confided, than on any 
clear conviction of my call to the work ; and when 
I yielded to their judgments, I firmly resolved not to 
deceive them, and to retire as soon as I should be con- 
vinced that I was not called of God, and to conduct 
myself in such a manner that if I failed, my friends 
might be satisfied it was not for want of effort on my 
part, but that their judgment was not well founded. 
This resolution supported me under many doubts and 
fears — for entering into the work of a travelling 
preacher neither removed my doubts nor the difficul- 
ties that attended my labors. Sustained by a deter- 
mination to make a full trial, I resorted to fasting 
and prayer, and waited for those kind friends who 
had charge and government over me to dismiss me 
from the work. But I waited in vain. In this state 
of suspense my reasoning might have terminated in 
discouraging and ruinous conclusions, had I not been 
comforted and supported by the kind and encouraging 
manner in which I was received by aged and expe- 
rienced brethren, and by the manifest presence of 
God in our meetings, which were frequently lively 
and profitable. Sometimes souls were convicted and 
converted, which afforded me considerable encour- 
agement, as well as the union and communion with 
my Saviour in private devotion, which he graciously 
alio vel me in the intervals of my very imperfect' 



IN TmaiNtA. 263 

attempts to preacli his gospel. In this way I became 
satisfied of my call to the ministry, and that I was 
moving in the line of my duty." 

Such was the beginning of a career which has 
shed undying lustre over the history of American 
Methodism. The first twelve years of his ministry 
were spent in Virginia ; eight years he was the leader 
of the noble band of preachers who planted Metho- 
dism throughout the great West ; twenty-seven years 
he filled the ofiice of Bishop. 

Perhaps no man ever raised up in America, under- 
stood more clearly the whole economy of Metho- 
dism, and certainly no man has ever been more fally 
approved as an administrator of Discipline. 

**In person, Bishop McKendree was a little above 
the medium height, and very finely proportioned, his 
form in his younger days giving notice of great phys- 
ical strength and activity. The first glance at his 
countenance convinced one that he stood before a man 
of great intellectual vigor, but whose predominant 
trait of character was mildness. There were both 
height and breath to his forehead ; and under heavy 
eyebrows, his eyes, black, impressive, and somewhat 
protruded, gave a continual evidence of the fires glow- 
ing within. His mouth had a more than usually in- 
tellectual expression ; his chin was square but not 
clumsy ; and, on the whole, it may be truly said, that 
a finer countenance, or one more expressive of piety, 
firmness and intelligence, could scarcely be found." 
The following reminiscence of this great and good 
man is from the pen of Eev Wm. C. Larrabee. 

'* I had once, and once only, the good fortune to 



264 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

see him and to hear him. It was at the session of 
the Nevf England Conference at Durham, in the State 
of Maine, in the year 1814. I was then a small boy, 
but I had heard of the fame of Bishop McKendree. 
On Sabbat li morning I made my way over the fields 
and pastures, and through the woods, to the old 
Methodist church, which stood in a rural region on 
the hillside. When I arrived at the house, I found 
no room — not so much as about the door. Being, 
however, a little fellow, I continued to work a tor- 
tuous passage through the crowd, and to reach a po- 
sition near the altar, in fall view of the preacher. 
He was just rising to give out his text. His tall and 
manly form, his dignified and commanding appear- 
ance struck me with admiration. Distinctly and 
impressively he read his text. Deut. xxx: 19, **I 
call heaven to record this day against you, that I have 
set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. 
Choose life that both thou and thy seed may live." 

"Without apology or labored introduction, he pro- 
ceeded at once to his main subject. His manner of 
speaking was different from any I had ever heard. He 
would speak for a few sentences rapidly in a collo- 
quial style. Then he would rise in declamation, and 
make the old house ring with the powerful tones of 
his magnifi.cent voice. Suddenly he would descend 
to a lower key, and utter tones sweet and soft as the 
Eolian lyre. At times the feelings of the audience 
would become, under his stirring appeals, most 
intense, and one simultaneous shout would leap from 
a hundred tongues. Young as I was, I was deeply 
affected with wonder and delight at the powerful elo- 



IN VIRGINIA. 265 

quence and commanding appearance of tlie distin- 
guished stranger. The man, the manner, the voice 
and the discom^se, all made on my youthful heart an 
impression which the long years that are past have 
failed to wear away." 

The saiQso writer thus describes the scene in the 
Light Street Church, Baltimore, on the first Sabbath 
of the General Conference, at which McKendree was 
elected bishop : 

*^ Among the appointments for preaching, there 
was announced for the Light Street Church the name 
of William McKendree. When the hour of mora- 
ing service arrived, there appeared an immense mul- 
titude of people, of all ranks and conditions of 
society congregating in a populous city. The mem- 
bers of the General Conference were there. The 
polished and hospitable citizens were there, and the 
slaves were there. The house was crowded, positively 
packed full^ — ^fuU in the main body, full in the first 
gallery, full in the second gallery, and full in the 
pulpit. All eyes were turned to the stranger, as, at 
the appointed time, he entered the pulpit, and stood 
before them. He was a man of tall form and com- 
manding appearance; but he was clothed in very 
coarse and homely garments, and his movements 
seemed, to the genteel part of the audience, awkward, 
and his manners rustic. 

'^ He read the hymn without much regard to rhythm 
or melody. He prayed with indistinct and faltering 
voice. He read his text without any regard to im- 
pressiveness. He introduced the main subject of his 
discourse with a few common place and uninteresting 
22* 



266 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

remarks. The spirit of the people died within them. 
Their expectations of an interesting discourse from 
the Western stranger seemed wholly disappointed. 
They made np their minds, as Christian people should, 
to bear as patiently as possible the dull and awkward 
sermon about to be inflicted on them. 

But when the discourse was about half finished, a 
' change came over the spirit of their dream.' Sam- 
son arose in his might and shook himself. The lion 
of the West made the walls of the Light Street, as he 
had often made the forests of Kentucky, ring with 
his powerful voice. The effect was tremendous. An 
electric impulse thrilled through every heart. The 
whole congregation seemed overwhelmed. Tears 
burst from the eye, and sobs and shrieks from the 
voice. Multitudes fell helpless from their seats, sud- 
den as if shot with a rifle. 

** The preacher then changed the tone of his voice, 
and then followed from the enraptured multitude 
shouts of joy and acclamations of triumph and praise. 
He changed again, and a sweet and holy influence, 
like the mellow light of Indian summer floating over 
the autumn landscape, seemed to invest the assembly. 
When he came down from the pulpit, the people 
gazed at him as they might at some messenger from 
another world, who had spoken to them in terms 
such as they had never heard before. The preachers 
with one accord said, * That is the man for a bishop. 
The same week he was elected. 

** Ko man in the American Methodist Church, at 
that time, united in his person so many admirable 
qualifications for the office as did William McKen- 



m VIRGINIA. 267 

dree. As a man, he was single-hearted, magnani- 
mous, generous, and of most refined and exquis- 
ite sensibility. As a Christian, he was deeply pious. 
As a minister, he was, in power and success, a prince 
among his brethren. He was thoroughly acquainted 
with the Discipline and government of the Church ; 
probably better versed in ecclesiastical law than any of 
his contemporaries except Asbury." 

In the spring of this year, (1788,) the first Con- 
ference was held in the rugged and mountainous 
country bordering on the Holstien Kiver. Asbury 
gives a graphic account of his travels in this wild 
region. 

** After getting our horses shod we made a move 
for Holstien, and entered upon the mountains ; the 
first of which I called steel, the second stone, and 
the third iron mountain. They are rough and diffi- 
cult to climb. We were spoken to on our way by 
most awful thunder and lightning, accompanied by 
heavy rain. We crept for shelter into a little dirty 
house where the filth might have been taken from the 
floor with a spade. We felt the want of fire, but 
could get little wood to make it, and what we gath- 
ered was wet. At the head of Watawga we fed, and 
reached Ward's that night. Coming to the river 
next day, we hired a young man to swim over for 
the canoe, in which we crossed, while our horses 
swam to the other shore. The waters being up, we 
were compelled to travel an old road over the moun- 
tains. Kight came on — ^I was ready to faint with a 
violent headache — the mountain was steep on both 
sides. I prayed to the Lord for help. Presently a 



268 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

profuse sweat broke out upon me, and my fever en- 
tirely subsided. About nine o'clock we came to 
Grear's. After taking a little rest here, we set out 
next morning for brother Cox's, on Holstien Elver. 
I had trouble enough. Our route lay through the 
woods, and my pack-horse would neither follow, lead, 
nor drive, so fond was he of stopping to feed on the 
green herbage. I tried the lead, and he pulled back. 
I tied his head up, to prevent his grazing, and he 
ran back. The weather was excessively warm. I 
was much fatigued, and my temper not a little tried. 
Arriving at the river, I was at a loss what to do ; 
but providentially a man came along who conducted 
me across. This has been an awful journey to me, 
and this a tiresome day ; and now, after riding sev- 
enty-five miles, I have thirty-five more to General 
Eussell's." 

Sach were the dangers and toils through which 
this holy man struggled to meet the little band of 
preachers scattered through those western wilds. 
Some of the incidents of this little Conference in 
Holstien are narrated by the venerable Thomas "Ware 
in his brief memoir. He writes : *' The first Con- 
ference in Holstien was held in 1788. As the road 
by which Bishop Asbury was to come, was infested 
with hostile savages, so that it could not be travelled 
except by considerable companies together, he was de- 
tained for a week after the time appointed to com- 
mence it. But we were not idle ; and the Lord gave 
us many souls in the place where we assembled, among 
whom were General Russell and lady, the latter a sis- 
ter of the illustrious Patrick Henry. I mention 



IN VIRGINIA; 269 

those particularly, because they were the first fruits 
of our labors at this Conference. On the Sabbath 
we had a crowded audience; and Mr. Tunnell 
preached an excellent sermon, which produced a 
great effect. The sermon was followed by a number 
of powerful exhortations. When the meeting closed 
Mrs. Russell came to me and said, *I thought I was 
a Christian; but, sir, I am not a Christain; T am 
the veriest sinner upon earth. I want you and Mr. 
Martin to come with Mr. Tunnell to our house, and 
pray for us, and tell us what we must do to be saved.' 
So we went and spent much of the afternoon in 
prayer, especially for Mrs. Russell. But she did not 
obtain deliverance. 

'^ Being much exhausted, the preachers retired to 
a pleasant grove, near at hand to spend a short time. 
After we had retired, the General, seeing the agony 
of soul under which his poor wife was laboring, read 
to her, by the advice of his pious daughter,' Mr. 
Fletcher's charming address to mourners, as contained 
in his Appeal. At length we heard the word ^Glory!' 
often repeated, accompanied with the clapping of 
hands. We hastened to the house, and found Mrs. 
Russell praising the Lord, and the General walking 
the floor and weeping bitterly, uttering at the same 
time this plaintive appeal to the Saviour of sinners ; 
' Lord, thou didst bless my dear wife while thy 
poor servant was reading to her—hast thou not a 
blessing also for me ?' At length he sat down quite 
exhausted. 

^^This scene was in a high degree interesting to 
us. To see the old soldier and statesman— the proud 



270 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

oppressor of godliness, trembling, and earnestly en- 
quiring what he must do to he saved, was an affecting 
sight. But the work ended not here. The conversion 
of Mrs. Eussell, whose zeal, good sense, and amia- 
bleness of character were proverbial, together with 
the penitential grief so conspicuous in the General, 
made a deep impression on the minds of many : and 
numbers were brought in before the Conference 
ceased. The General rested not until he knew Ms 
adoption; and he continued a faithful member of 
the church, and an efficient member, after he became 
eligible for office, constantly adorning the doctrine of 
God our Saviour, unto the end of his life." 



IN VIRGINIA. 271 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Series of Conferences — Journey of Asbury and Coke — Prosper- 
ous state of the Churches — Revivals — Rev. S. G. Roszell — Ex- 
tension of the work in Virginia — Size of a District — Quarterly 
Meetings — Establishment of " The Council " — Its powers — The 
first Meeting — Dissatisfaction — Abandonment of the plan — Con- 
ferences of 1790 — John Tunnell — His labors and death — Enoch 
George — Daniel Hall — Asbury in Virginia — Rev. Thomas Scott's 
view of his character — Efforts to establish Sunday Schools — 
Conferences of 1791--2— Stith Mead— Sketch of his life— Con- 
ference in Greenbrier — Method of conducting business — Re- 
markable Conversion — Perilous journey of Asbury through the 
mountains. 

FOR the whole work eleven Conferences were held 
in the spring of 1789. The series opened in 
Georgia on the 9th of March, and closed at Kew 
York on the 28th of May. These small assemhlies 
were held at intervals of ten or twelve days, and fre- 
quently within fifty miles of each other. This gave 
rise to some dissatisfaction, but at that period the 
Bishop usually called as many Conferences as he 
thought proper, and held them at such times and 
places as were most convenient for the preachers and 
for himself as the General Superintendent. In Vir- 
ginia two of these Conferences were held — one at 
Petersburg on the 18th of April, the other at Lees- 
burg on the 28th of the same month. 

In his northward journey Asbury was accompa- 



272 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

nied by Dr. Coke, who reached the Continent in 
February from the West Indies. Some of the inci- 
dents of their tour have been preserved by Dr. Coke. 
^Notwithstanding the privations and sufferings of a 
long and dangerous travel through wild, uncultivated 
regions, they found much to enliven the solitudes 
through which they passed. ** They were occasionally 
interrupted by large congregations that assembled at 
stated places to wait their arrival. To these they 
preached the word of life, and much success seemed 
to crown their labors. The scenery, also, sometimes 
appeared romantic and highly picturesque. Exten- 
sive vistas, expanded waters, towering pines, the 
rustliug of breezes, the flight of birds, and the start- 
ling of trembling fawns, all conspired to impart an 
exhilarating solemnity to their spirits, and to raise 
their thoughts from nature *'up to nature's God." 
Part of their journey was illumined by the burning 
of an immense pine forest. "It was," says Dr. 
Coke, '^the most astonishing illumination that I 
ever beheld. We seemed surrounded with extensive 
fires, and I question whether the King of France's 
stag hunt in his forest by night, which he has some- 
times given to his nobility, would be more wonderful 
or entertaining to a philosophic eye. I have seen 
old rotten phie trees all on fire ; the trunks and the 
branches, which looked like so many arms, were full 
of visible fire, and made a most grotesque ap- 
pearance." 

Of what was done at the Conferences in Virginia 
scarcely a trace remains. Asbury has not a word to 
guide us. From Dr. Coke we gather that the state 



i 



IN YIRaiNIA. 



275 

of religion was liiglily encouraging. " Many preach- 
ers were permitted to enter on the increasing work ; 
and the storms of persecution, which had formerly: 
raged with so much violence, were heard no more. 
Applause and approbation had succeeded to the 
frowns of hostility ; and chariots and other carriages 
brought a crowd of genteel and attentive hearers to 
those spots which ferocious mobs had covered about 
two years prior to this time." 

The members in Yirginia were reported at 10,885 
whites, and 2,487 blacks ; the increase was a little, 
above 2,000, though we have no guides to those 
fields, most highly favored with the outpourings of 
the Spirit. We find a few traces of the good work 
in Gloucester circuit preserved by Eev. Thomas Scott. 
[^ Our quarterly meeting was held at the house of Mrs. 
Chapman, situated in a place called Guinea. Eev. 
Stephen G. Eoszell came with the presiding elder, 
Philip Bruce, and preached on Sunday. He was a 
noble looking man, but, I thought from his man- 
ner, too forward, and entertained too high an opinion 
of himself. After dinner, in the course of conver- 
sation, I pointed out several important mistakes he 
had made in his sermon, and pressed them upon him; 
at length he exclaimed, 'Young man, I'll fix you for 
this.' The evening passed off pleasantly, till tlie 
candles were lighted, and the congregation assembled. 
Mr. E. and myself were in a lively conversation up 
stairs, when the room door was suddenly opened by 
the Eev. Mr. Bruce, who said, ' Brother Scott, you 
must preach,' and instantly withdrew. I was startled 
as if by a clap of thunder. Mr. E. perceived my 



274 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

confasion and embarrassment, and laughed. I in- 
stantly suspected that my appointment to preach 
had been procured by his application, and I felt 
something like irritation. I hesitated a few 
moments, not knowing what to do. I feared to dis- 
obey the peremptory order of my elder. In a few 
moments a certain passage of Scripture occurred to 
my mind, and 1 instantly went down stairs and com- 
menced the meeting. My text was Isaiah iii : 10, 11. 
I spoke about thirty minutes, and returned to my 
room. Before I concluded, the power of God came 
down upon the congregation, and the floor was lite- 
rally covered with mourners crying for mercy. Mas- 
ters, mistresses, and their slaves were promiscuously 
strewed together on the floor. The work continued 
to a late hour, and several struggled into life. Neither 
before nor since did I ever pass such a night of anx- 
iety and deep distress. During the whole time that 
I was speaking, it appeared to me that my mind was 
m a constant state of irritation. I had said nothing 
which to my mind was calculated to produce the 
effects, the evidences of which lay before me. The 
ideas which forced themselves upon me were, ' They 
are all hypocrites, you are a hypocrite, you were never 
called to minister in sacred things, your elder now 
discovers it, and you will be sent home on Monday 
morning.' This continued until I preached again 
the next day on as sudden a call from the elder as the 
one just mentioned, when the clouds broke, light 
came in, and I spoke with much feeling." 

Mr. Roszell was a fearless leader among our early 
preachers ; hie labors were largely bestowed on Yir- 



IN VlRtJlNIA, 27S 

ginia in tlie earlier, as well as in tlie later years of 
his very useful life. He is described by Mr. Scott as 
a man of imposing personal appearance, with a 
clear commanding voice, a fine reasoner, powerful in 
theological disputation, and a ** plain, sound, theo- 
retical, experimental, practical preacher." 

The work in Virginia was extended by the addition 
of two new circuits, Greensville and Botetourt. 

Virginia supplied several preachers this year, whose 
names are cherished as among the most faithful of our 
early laborers. Few men have left a brighter record 
than Jesse Nicholson and Christopher S. Mooring ; 
few have been more useful to the Church and more 
successful in all the work of the Christian ministry. 
Among the number called from labor to rest, one 
was from Virginia. His record is brief, but expres- 
sive : Henry Bingham — a native of Virginia ; four 
years a laborer in the vineyard ; serious, faithful, 
zealous, humble and teachable ; and during part of 
the last year more than commonly successful, and 
resigned in death." 

For the first time the official title of *' Presiding 
Elder" occurs this year in the Minutes. As a matter 
of curious interest to the reader, we give the number 
of circuits embraced in a single district seventy years 
ago. A glance at the map will show that to "make 
a round" once in three months over such a territory 
was no light work. 

The** South District of Virginia" embraced the 
following circuits ; Halifax, Mecklenburg, Bedford, 
Cumberland, Amelia, Brunswick, Sussex, Greens- 
ville, Bertie, Camden, Portsmouth, Williamsburg, 



276 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Hanover and Orange. The E"orth District reached 
from the Alleghany Mountains to the Chesapeake 
Bay, embracing Rockingham, Alleghany, Berkeley, 
Fairfax, Lancaster and Gloucester ; the counties not 
named were of course included in these circuits. 
Over these vast Districts the Presiding Elders passed 
every three months. IIow great the- labors of those 
truly heroic men who planted Methodism in these 
lands ! 

With scanty fare and scanty pay, exposed to all 
dangers, to heat and cold, sleeping in the forest, or 
m huts before the fire, on a deer or bear skin bed, 
amid all these, and a thousand other privations, they 
pressed on after the lost sheep in the wilderness. 

In this noble work the Presiding Elders led the 
way, and every preacher cheerfully followed. The 
Quarterly Meetings were occasions of great interest ; 
they w^ere almost always marked by signal displays 
of Divine power. The people gathered to them from 
a distance of forty or fifty miles, and returned to their 
homes refreshed and strengthened as from a ^ * feast 
of fat things, of wines on the lees well refined." 

The only intimations of the spiritual condition of 
the churches in Virginia during this year we glean 
from the meagre entries in Asbury's journal. In 
some places he felt cheered and encouraged, in others 
he was deeply grieved at the afilictions of Zion. Of 
Gloucester, through which he passed rapidly, he 
whites: **We had a few attentive people at Brother 
Bellamy's. Gloucester ! Gloucester ! when will it 
be famous for religion f At Ohickahominy Church 
he preached, faithfully warning ** sinners, Pharisees, 



IN VIRGINIA. 277 

backsliders, hypocrites, and believers;" be tbongbt 
all. ^* these characters were there, doubtless a goodly 
number in the large congregation which attended." 

At Mabry's, in Brunswick, under the word *' there 
was a remarkable quickening and manifestation of the 
Lord's power." He had a good meeting at Roanoke 
Chapel, and w^as rejoiced to find that the Society there 
had increased to more than a hundred souls. In the 
Northern Neck the signs were cheering. One of his 
*' public and social meetings occupied six hours and a 
half." Many, both white and black, came through 
the rain to hear the word of life ; the work of grace 
was deepened in many hearts, and several bore testi- 
mony to the pure love of God. 

The year 1789 is noted in the history of American 
Methodism for the establishment of a new ecclesiasti- 
cal body with large powers styled " The Council." The 
necessities of the Church gave birth to this singular 
Council. The Bishops clearly saw the inconvenience 
of summoning all the preachers scattered over the 
work to meet in one Conference. Hence their plan 
of holding small separate Conferences as a mere mat- 
ter of convenience ; but in these Conferences no 
action taken was binding, except ordination and ap- 
pointing the preachers, unless ratified by them all. 
Such unanimity could hardly be expected under the 
most favorable circumstances. There was, therefore, 
danger of Methodism falling to pieces as an organiza- 
tion for the want of some central power to give direction 
to its energies and uniformity to its administrations. 

As the best plan that could be devised, the Bishops, 

after mature reflection, recommended to the Confer- 

23* 



278 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ences the establishment of a representative body, to be 
composed of the wisest and best men of the Church, to 
meet at stated periods for the formation of all need- 
ful rules and regulations for the government of the 
Church in its various departments. The plan met 
with much opposition in some of the Conferences, 
but was finally adopted. The Council was to consist 
of *'the Bishops and the Presiding Elders, provided 
the members who compose it be never fewer than 
nine." When organized they were clothed with 
'^ authority to mature every thing they might judge ex- 
pedient." 1. To preserve the general union. 2. 
To render and preserve the external form of worship 
similar in all our Societies throughout the Continent. 
3. To preserve the essentials of Methodist Doctrines 
and Discipline pure and uncorrupted. And lastly, 
they were authorized to mature every thing they may 
see necessary for the good of the Church, and for the 
promoting and improving our colleges and plans of 
education." 

Singularly enough, the Conferences, after granting 
these extraordinary powers, almost completely neu- 
tralized them by the following proviso : '* Provided, 
nevertheless, that nothing shall be received as the 
resolution of the Council, unless it be assented to 
unanimously by the Council ; and nothing so assented 
to by the Council, shall be binding in any District 
till it has been agreed upon by a majority of the 
Conference which is held for that District." Thus 
the Council received its life, and its death wound, in 
the same hour. That body was hardly worth exist- 



IN VIRGINIA. 279> 

ence whose acts could be ignored by any little Con- 
ference of a dozen members. 

A picture of the first Council and its doings has 
been preserved by Asbury He writes, under date 
of " Thursday, December 3 : Our Council was seated, 
(at Baltimore), consisting of the following persons, 
viz : Eichard Ivey, from Georgia ; R. Ellis, South ' 
Carolina ; E. Morris, North Carolina ; Phihp Bruce, ^ 
ll^orth District of Virginia; James O'Kelly, South' 
District of Virginia ; Lemuel Green, Ohio ; Nelsori 
Reid, Western Shore of Maryland ; Joseph Everett, 
Eastern Shore; John Dickens, Pennsylvania; J. 0. 
Cromwell, Jersey ; and Freeborn Garrettson, I^Tew 
York. All our business was done in love and una- 
nimity. The concerns of the College were well at- 
tended to, as also the printing business. We formed 
some resolutions relative to economy and union, and 
others concerning the funds for the relief of our. suf- 
fering preachers* on the frontiers. We rose on the 
eve of Wednesday following. During our sitting we 
had preaching every night ; and some few souls w^ere 
stirred up, and others converted. The 'prudence of 
some had stilled the noisy ardour of our young peo- 
ple, and it was difficult to re-kindle the fire. I col- 
lected about twenty-eight pounds for the poor, suffer- 
ing preachers in the West. We spent one day in 
speaking our own experiences, and giving an account 
of the progress and state of the work of God in our 
several Districts ; a spirit of union pervades the whole 
body, producing blessed effects and fruits." 

The Council met again in 1790, and ^ ^determined," 
says Jesse Lee, *^to have another meeting two years 



280 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

from that time. But their proceedings gave such dis- 
satisfaction to our Connection in general, and to some 
of the travelling preachers in particular, that they 
were forced to abandon the plan." Thus, with 
scarcely a regret from any quarter, the Council passed 
to the shades. 

Fourteen Conferences were held for 1790. Two 
of these were within the limits of Virginia. The first 
met at Lane's Chapel in Sussex county, on the 14th 
of June ; the second at Leesburg, on the 26th of 
August. Asbury gives a more complete account of 
what was done at Lane's Chapel than is usual with 
him. " Our Conference began ; all was peace until 
the Council was mentioned. The young men ap- 
peared to be entirely under the influence of the elders, 
and turned it out of doors. I was weary and felt but 
little freedom to speak on the subject. This business 
is to be explained to every preacher ; and then it must 
be carried through all the Conferences twenty-four 
times, that is, through all the Conferences for two 
years. We had some little quickenings, but no great 
move among the people at our public preaching. Mr. 
Jarratt preached for us ; friends at first are friends 
again at last. There were four elders, and seventeen 
deacons ordained ; ten young men who offered to 
travel, besides those who remained on trial. The 
work of God does revive here, although not in the 
same degree it did two years ago. In the midst of 
all my labors and troubles I enjoy peace within." 

James O'Kelly, himself a prominent member of 
the first Council, was now its most bitter opponent. 
His great influence with the younger Virginia preach- 



IN VIRGINIA. '281 

ers brougTit the whole of them into line against the 
Council, and they Bummarily * turned it out of doors." 

All we know of the Leesburg Conference, is given 
by Asbury with his usual brevity. 

"Wednesday, August 25 ; ** Our Conference began 
at Leesburg, and we continued together until the 
Sabbath following, and had a happy time of peace 
and union." 

The returns from the circuits in Virginia showed a 
membership of 12,826 whites, and 3,416 blacks ; the 
increase was nearly 3,500. The work was enlarged 
by the addition of three new circuits, Surry and Staf- 
ford in the eastern, and Kanawha in the western part 
of the State. 

Two faithful laborers had fallen during the year. 
James Conner, of Buckingham, closed his life in 
peace, after toiling two years and a half. His record 
is brief, but complete. *^A pious, solid, under- 
standing man. His gifts were improvable, and pro- 
mised usefulness to the Church. In the midst of a 
blameless life he was suddenly taken away from labor 
and suffering, and blessed with confidence in his last 
moments." 

*^John Tunnell died of a consumption at the 
Sweet Springs in July, 1790." Such is the re- 
cord in the Minutes followed by six lines in which 
we are told that he was in the active work thirteen 
years ; *^ was a man of solid piety, great simplicity 
and godly sincerity ; well known and much esteemed 
both by ministers and people." 

Tunnell was a brave leader among those preachers 
who counted not their lives dear unto themselves. In 



282 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

1787, while the seeds of disease were springing up 
within him, he volunteered to lead a little hand of four 
into the wild and rugged country along the Holston 
Eiver. There, amid savage beasts, and still more 
savage men, this holy man toiled for . souls, nor 
toiled in vain. The seed of the gospel fell into good 
ground, and the Holston Conference now covers the 
field first broken by Whitaker, Tunnell, Ware and 
other faithful men. Foremost among them stood 
Tunnell; ** a great preacher," says Jesse Lee; '*a 
great saint," says Asbury. The Bishop was in the 
mountains when he died, and preached his funeral. 
*' Few men," he writes, *^as public ministers were 
better known, or more beloved. He was a simple- 
hearted, artless, childlike man ; had a large fund of 
Scriptural knowledge, was a good historian, a sensi- 
ble, imposing preacher, a most affectionate friend, 
and a great saint. He had been wasting and de- 
clining in strength and health, for eight years past" 

Among those who were received on trial this year, 
in the Virginia Conference, we find the names of 
Enoch George and Daniel Hall, both of whom be- 
came eminent as Christian ministers. In Enoch 
George the Conference received a good and true man. 
For simplicity, power, and pathos in the pulpit, he waa 
excelled by no man in his day. The ISTorthern Neck 
of Virginia, so prolific of great men, was his birth- 
place. 

His father, in the hope of improving his worldly 
interests, changed his home several times during the 
minority of his son, residing for brief periods in the 
counties of Lancaster, Sussex, Dinwiddle, and Bruns- 



IN VIRGINIA. 283 

wick. The family were nominally religious, and 
connected with the Established Church. Either in 
Dinwiddle or Brunswick, young George had the 
privilege of sitting under the ministry of the Eev. 
Devereaux Jarratt. His mind was deeply impressed 
by the clear and searching sermons of this eminent 
man, and he soon became an earnest enquirer after 
truth. Wlnle in this hopeful state the family re- 
moved to a distant parish, where they were deprived 
of the ministrations of Mr. Jarratt. Surrounded in 
his new home by gay and thoughtless neighbors, 
he found his serious impressions wearing off; he be- 
came trifling and worldly in his feehngs, and a boon 
companion of those who ridiculed serious and godly 
people. His career of folly was arrested by an ex- 
hortation from that *'son of thunder," John Easter. 
His parents had gone to hear this venerable man, 
while he remained at home preparing bitter sarcasms 
against Methodist preachers and their modes of wor- 
ship. On their return his first word against Metho- 
dists was met by a stern rebuke from his father : *'Sir, 
let me never hear any thing of that nature escape your 
lips again." He was struck dumb by this reproof ; 
he saw that his father had been deeply impressed by 
the truth, and he determined to hear the preacher 
for himself. The next day, on reaching the church, 
he found it crowded, but, with some difficulty, secured 
a seat. The sermon was preached by a stranger, 
followed by Easter in one of his powerful exhorta- 
tions. The word came in the power of the Holy 
Ghost. Some fell from their seats prostrate on the 
floor, others kneeled in an agony of prayer, while 



284 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

many ran from the House. Young George was as- 
tonished; one man came near falling on him; he 
attempted to leave the house, hut his limhs were 
powerless. 

At length he rose and fled from the place, resolv- 
ing never again to visit a Methodist meeting. The 
next day he refused to go back, though urged by 
some of his young companions. His father interposed 
and said, **Go, my son." He obeyed and went ;■ 
conviction seized his heart, and he fell down at the 
Cross, an humble penitent.- 

His struggle for deliverance was long and painful ; 
he roamed the fields and woods, seeking pardon for 
his sins. One Sabbath, alone in the forest, he wres- 
tled in prayer. "While on his knees, the light broke 
on his darkness, his spirit seemed bathed in a sweet 
peace, and he felt that God, for Christ's sake, had 
forgiven and accepted him. He was not long idle. 
He took up the cross and held prayers in his father's 
family ; he aided his teacher in conducting a revival 
in the school that he attended ; and he was soon called 
to assist in the public prayer meetings. Thus God 
thrust him into the vineyard. His friends began to 
think he ought to preach ; he shuddered at the idea j 
they urged him to exhort; he shrank even from this. 
They then induced the circuit preacher to consent to 
call him out after the sermon, and thus force him 
into the work. He heard of their plan, and although 
too conscientious to absent himself from the meeting, 
he hoped by going late and taking an obscure seat, 
to escape notice. The preacher, suspecting him to 
bo present, though he did not see him, called out at 



IN VIRGINIA. 285 

the close of his sermon : " Brother George, come up 
and exhort." 

At this the poor youth was so alarmed that he 
slipped from his seat and sat on the floor, hoping to 
escape ohservation. But the inexorable preacher 
continued to call for him, until at length a friend 
went and took him by the hand and led him to the 
pulpit. He then ventured to make his first exhor- 
tation. 

Some time after this he was urged by a preacher, 
who wished to locate, to take his place on the circuit, 
till the close of the year. He consented, and began 
his itinerant life as the colleague of Philip Cox, a 
most excellent and useful man. One day, while 
riding along together, they met Bishop Asbury ; Cox 
presented George to the Bishop, saying: "I have 
brought you a boy, and if you have anything for him 
to do, you may set him to work." *' Bishop Asbury," 
says George, '* looked at me for sometime ; at length 
calling me to him, he laid my head upon his knee, 
and stroking my face with his hand, he said : * Why, 
he is a beardless boy, and can do nothing.' I then 
thought my travelling was at an end. The next day 
Asbury sent him to a circuit, and Enoch George 
boldly rode forward in the path of duty from which 
he never swerved for a single moment. 

He was well fitted, in mind and body, for the 
arduous work of the ministry. His person was large 
and noble, indicating great strength and great power 
of endurance. His face was the index of his mind, and 
impressed the beholder with an idea of mental energy. 
There was a happy adaptation between his physical and 



286 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

mental ability. Energy is the word that most accu- 
rately describes him. " He was every where the think- 
ing, active agent, rather than the sequestered plodding 
theorist." He thought rapidly and accurately, deci- 
ded promptly and firmly, and allowed o business to 
hang on his hands. The propelling power of his 
mind was felt in. every department of the Church 
through which he moved. With him ** nothing was 
done while anything remained to be done." He was 
a preacher of rare ability. His voice was powerful, 
but not harsh, under perfect control, and seemed pe- 
culiarly fitted for the expression of pathetic thoughts. 
His style, as described by one who had often heard 
him, '' was a mixture of the sublime and the pathetic 
and might be considered, alternately, a very good 
specimen of each, in purely extemporaneous produc- 
tions. To the rules of Khetoric, or the arts of stu- 
died eloquence, he paid little regard ; but if the true 
eloquence of the pulpit be, as Blair defines it, " to 
make an impression on the people — to strike and seize 
their hearts ' — he was a master, and, in comparison 
with thousands who claim to be such, more than a 
master. No man ever succeeded more uniformly in 
moving his congregation to tears, and, sometimes 
even to trembling and loud cries, than did Bishop 
George." 

In his flights of eloquence, he often carried the 
whole congregation ** away as with a flood." He 
used to say, * * It is the grammatical eloquence of the 
Holy Ghost that deeply, lastingly, and powerfully effects 
the hearts of men." ** The unction that attended 
1'^ \ord," says Wilbur Fisk, <* was not merely like 



IN VIRGINIA. 287 

the consecrating oil tliat ran down Aaron's beard, but 
it was like the anointing spirit that penetrates the 
heart. He preached with his soul full of glory." 
The secret of his extraordinary power in the pulpit 
is found in his close communion with God in the 
closet. Says one who knew him well: **He cer- 
tainly exceeded any person I ever knew in private 
prayer. He would wrap his cloak around him, and 
no matter how cold, he would continue over half an 
hour praying, groaning, wrestling, agonizing : thus 
he had intimate communion with God." 

As a Bishop he presided in the Conferences with 
dignity, impartiality, and faithfulness. He is the only 
Bishop of the Church of whom no portrait exists. 
He never could be induced to sit to an artist. He 
used to say : ** If any painter ever gets my likeness 
to exhibit, he shall steal it, or catch it flying." He 
had an unconquerable aversion to being catechized by 
curious strangers, as the following anecdote will 
attest : 

Riding through Few England in company with a 
preacher, "he espied," says the narrator, ** a farmer 
on his horse near the road-side. The farmer was in 
conversation with a neighbor and did not see us until 
our carriage was nearly opposite to him. 

* Stop," said the Bishop to me, ''stop, Bub, and 
let me get out, for I perceive that old body is prepar- 
ing to fire a platoon of questions at me, which I can 
never answer.' 

I of course complied with his request, and the 
Bishop was off at double-quick step. The farmer- 



288 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

was off also, belaboring Ms old nag's sides witli his 
boot-heels, most unmercifully. 

The Bishop, looking over his shoulder as he ran, 
perceived the increasing speed of his pursuer, and 
quickened his pace, but all to no purpose ; his tor- 
mentor was close on his track, and would soon open 
his battery of questions. Seeing a dense thicket near 
at hand, the Bishop darted into it and was soon be- 
yond the reach of pursuit. The farmer muttering 
his disappointment rode slowly along, and not till he 
was out of sight would the Bishop leave his place of 
concealment. As he emerged from the thicket he 
exclaimed to his companion, who had come up with 
the carriage : 

**DidI not tell you he was preparing to catechise 
me ? It is very annoying to me, as I cannot answer 
their principal questions, which generally are these : 

First, ' where do you live when you are at home V 

Now the truth is, I cannot answer this question, 
for I have no home. The second is : 

* How old are you V 

This I cannot answer as the family records were 
destroyed at the commencement of the Eevolutionary 
war. Therefore, as I cannot answer their principal 
questions, neither can I others, and I do not wish to 
be perplexed by a constant catechetical course ; and I 
will run at any time, if I can only avoid such tormen- 
ters/' 

Daniel Hall was a noble specimen of a man and a 
minister. He was born in Gloucester county. At 
the early age of eighteen, he was a preacher. His 
person, of medium height, was handsome and well- 



IN VIRGINIA. 289 

formed. In his dress he was a pattern of neatness ; 
not a speck of dust could be found on his well-brushed 
suit, while his boots always shone with the highest 
polish. He stood and walked perfectly erect. His 
features were fine and regular, with a florid complex- 
ion and deep blue eyes. As a companion, he was 
exceedingly agreeable, possessing a-large fund of an- 
ecdotes and incidents which he related in the social 
circle, with fine effect. His benevolent feelings 
were strongly developed, and he was diligent in seek- 
ing out the poor, and ministering to their wants. As 
a preacher, he stood in the first-class. He pos- 
sessed a sound judgment, was an excellent disciplina- 
rian and as a Presiding Elder had no superior in the 
Church. Ko man contributed more to the establish- 
ment of Methodism in Virginia than Daniel Hall. He 
studied medicine after he became a preacher, and 
hence his title, Dr. Hall. He spoke but seldom in 
the Conferences, but when he did, his words were 
weighty, and he was heard with profound respect. 
There was a vein of natural eccentricity running 
through his character, and the following anecdote 
illustrative of this remark has been furnished by the 
Kev. Arthur Cooper, who for many years was his in- 
timate friend. 

"While stationed at Norfolk he was sometimes in- 
vited to preach at Washington Point. One very warm 
day he went over to an appointment, accompanied by 
Mr. Cooper. A fine congregation was in waiting. 

Among those who succeeded in crowding into the 
house was a gentleman who was extremely fond of 
singing, though not finely gifted in that line, and 



290 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM . 

who generally assumed the duty of pitching the tune 
the moment the preacher gave out the lines. The 
Doctor read a hymn in short measure, which the 
would be chorister attempted to sing in common 
measure. It was hard work, but by slurs and other 
methods known only to himself, he managed to go 
on with it. Dr. Hall gave out the hymn by lines to 
the end. At the close he paused a moment, and then 
looking at the singer, said: **Now, sir, you have 
eung that whole hymn wrong ; now go over it again, 
and sing it right ; you know better." And he made 
the poor fellow perform the whole piece to a suitable 
tune, while the sweat rolled in streams from his 
face. As they walked back home, Mr. C. asked 
him how he could find it in his heart to impose such 
a task on the man. He replied: *^He knew he 
was doing wrong, sir, and I wished to make him do 
right." 

The following anecdote has been related of Bishop 
Asbury, Dr. Hall, and Nicholas Snethen. They 
were on their way from Charleston, South Carolina, 
to Virginia. Having travelled a long distance with- 
out stopping to rest or eat. Hall and Snethen became 
very hungry, and paodestly proposed to ** Father," as 
the early preachers called the Bishop, that they should 
halt beneath an inviting shade near a fine spring, 
and refresh themselves with a nice lunch that some 
thoughtful sister had placed in their saddle-bags. 

**Pooh! pooh!" said the Bishop, *^come along, 
come along, you are always^ thinking of filling your 
bread-bags ; that is the reason you preach no better 
than you do ;" and riding on at a brisk pace he left 



IN VIRGINIA. 291 

them in the rear. They eoncluded that if ** Father" 
could do without eating, they could not, so dismount- 
ing, they fell to work on the lunch. While thus 
engaged, they were startled by the sound of horses' 
feet, and looking up they saw the Bishop coming 
back at full speed, setting perfectly erect on his horse 
and holding him in with all his might. 

Snethen exclaimed as they both sprang to their 
feet, " look at Father's horse, he is running away 
with him." 

Having reached his companions the runaway horse 
stopped. ** Now see what you have done," said the 
Bishop almost out of breath, **You have been the 
cause of all this." 

Then wheeling his horse he rode rapidly away. 
They put up their lunch and hurried after him, amu- 
sing themselves at the idea of having made the Bishop 
race back nearly a mile. 

For fifty years Dr. Hall filled his place in the 
itinerant ranks with honor and usefulness to the 
Church of his early choice, and went down to his 
grave full of years as a shock of corn fully ripe, and 
ready for the garner of heaven. 

In his annual tour this year Asbury made a journey 
through the sea-board counties of Virginia and North 
Carolina. The following striking picture of this true 
successor of the Apostles is from the pen of Rev. 
Thomas Scott, whom we have already introduced to 
the reader : 

^* Toward the close of the winter of 1790, about 
nine o'clock of a dark night, Bishop Asbury arrived 
at the house of Mr. Flemming, in Gloucester county, 



292 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

where I then was. Till the roads through the States 
became so much improved that he could ride in a 
carriage, he constantly travelled with two horses, 
one he rode, the other carried his baggage. His 
baggage-horse would follow him any where, like a 
dog. On the night of his arrival at Mr. Flemming's 
it was so dark through the pine woods that the Bishop 
could not see which way to go, and he left it to his 
horse that had often travelled that way before. 

He was in fine spirits. I had often seen him and 
heard him preach, but that was the first time in which 
we had ever been brought into immediate union and 
fellowship with each other. He was now 44 years of 
age, and about five feet, eight inches in height. His 
bones were large, but not his muscles. His voice 
was deep toned, sonorous and clear. His articula- 
tion and emphasis were very distinct, and his words 
were always appropriate. His sermons resembled 
the lessons of an intellectual parent giving instruction 
to the children whom he tenderly loved. His fea- 
tures were distinctly marked, and his intellectual 
organs were well balanced and finely developed. His 
hair and complexion, when he was young, were light, 
and his eye-lashes uncommonly long. E"o one could 
look upon his countenance without feeling that he was 
m the presence of a great man. His very look inspired 
awe, veneration nd respect. His general appear- 
ance was that of a person born to rule. He was an 
excellent judge of the character, talents and qualifi- 
cations of men for particular stations. When pre- 
siding in Conferences, unless when compelled to 
speak, he sat with his eyes apparently closed; but 



IN VIRaiNIA. 293 

those wlio attentively noticed Ms countenance never 
failed to see that his eyes were not closely shut, hut 
were in constant motion, looking through his long 
eye-lashes, inspecting the countenances of the differ- 
ent members of the Conference, so as to form a cor- 
rect estimate of each. His appeals to the preachers, 
when it became necessary for missionaries to be 
sent to the wilds of the West, were irresistible. 
When he found it necessary to relax the gravity of 
his countenance he would make himself as pleasant 
and playful as a child. 

**I once had the happiness of spending parts of two 
days in company with him and the Eev. Kichard 
Whatcoat, afterward Bishop. When he wanted a 
little relaxation from his studies, he would teaze 
Whatcoat for hours together, particularly in the 
morning, before his old friend, whom he sincerely 
loved and venerated, got out of bed." 

This tour of Asbury, to which allusion is made in 
the above extract, was a severe one. It was mid- 
winter, and the weather distressingly cold. He suf- 
fered much in crossing the wide rivers in open ferry- 
boats exposed to the piercing winds, yet in the midst 
of all, his mind was kept m peace. Reaching a 
friendly house after a ride of twenty-five miles, he 
writes: ** I found myself much chilled by my ride. 
My soul has been kept in peace and almost in con- 
stant prayer. I wish to feel so placid as not to have 
any acid in my temper, nor a frown or wrinkle on my 
brow ; to bear all things, to do all things, suffer all 
things, from the ignorance or weakness of the chil- 
dren of (jod, or wickedness of the ^ons and daughters 



V 



294 MEMORIALS Of METHODISM 

of Satan. I tMnk my soul momently pants after 
more of God." 

Asbury was peculiarly gifted, as all his contempo- 
raries testify, in discerning character, and no one 
enjoyed more highly the company of refined and cul- 
tivated Christians. In this tour he visited Councillor 
Carter, a prominent citizen of the T^orthern Neck. 
Of Mr. Carter, he writes: " he has the manners of 
a gentleman, the attainments of a scholar, and the 
experience of a Christian." Brief but expressive 
eulogy. 

An effort was made this year to establish Sunday 
Schools throughout the Connection. Before stating 
the Conference action on the subject, we yield to an 
inclination to present the reader a brief sketch of 
this important institution. 

As is well known, to Eobert Raikes, a benevolent 
citizen of Gloucester, England, belongs the honor of 
founding Sunday Schools. He gives the following 
account of his early labors in this cause ; 

'*The utility of an establishment of this kind was 
first suggested by a group of little miserable wretches 
whom I observed one day in the street, where many 
people employed in the pin factory reside. I was 
expressing my concern to one at their forlorn and 
neglected state, and was told that if I were to pass 
through that street on Sunday, it would shock me 
indeed to see the crowds of children who were spend- 
ing the sacred day in noise and riot. I immediately 
determined to make some little effort to remedy this 
evil. Having found four persons who were accustomed 
to instruct children in reading, I engaged to pay the 



IN VIRGINIA. 295 

sum they required for receiving and instructing such 
children as I might send to them every Sunday. 

**The children were to come soon after ten o'clock 
in the morning and stay till twelve. They were then 
to go home and return at one, and after reading a 
lesson, they were to be conducted to church. After 
church they were to be employed in repeating cate- 
chism till half-past five, and then to be dismissed, with 
an injunction to go home without making a noise, 
and by no means to play in the streets. 

**Many of the parents said they were too poor to 
clothe them in fit garb to appear at the school, but 
we told them if they could appear on the street they 
might come to the school ; all we required was clean 
faces, clean hands, and the hair combed. In all 
other respects they were to come as their circum- 
stances would admit. A manufacturer was asked if 
he saw any change in the children. 

" *Sir,' said he, *the change could not have been 
more extraordinary had they been transformed from 
the shape of wolves and tigers to that of men.' 

*'In tempers, disposition, and manners they could 
hardly be said to difi:er from the brute creation, but 
since the establishment of the Sunday Schools, they 
have shown that they are not the abject creatures they 
were before." 

No sooner had Wesley learned of this successful 
experiment at Gloucester, than he determined at once 
to introduce Sunday Schools into his Societies. He 
earnestly exhorted the Methodists to imitate the ex- 
ample of Mr. Eaikes. They responded to his appeals, 
and in the year 1785, *' hard-working men and 



296 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

women began to instruct their neighbor's children, 
and go with them to the house of God on the Lord's 
day, without being hired for the purpose." 

Wesley, therefore, was the first to introduce gratu- 
itous instruction into the system, and to give religious 
mstruction the chief place in all the schools under his 
care. 

One of his largest and most flourishing schools at 
Bolton, is thus described in his journal : 

** We went on to Bolton ; about there I met be- 
tween nine hundred and a thousand of the children 
belonging to our Sunday Schools. I never saw such 
a sight before. They were all exactly clean, as well 
as plain in their apparel. All were serious and well- 
behaved. Many, both boys and girls, had as beautiful 
faces as, I believe England or Europe can afford. 
"When they all sung together, and none of them out 
of tune, the melody was beyond that of any theatre ; 
and, what is best of all, many of them truly fear 
God, and some rejoice in his salvation. These are 
a pattern to the town. Their usual diversion is to- 
visit the poor that are sick, (sometimes six, or eight, 
or ten together,) to exhort, comfort and pray with 
them. Frequently ten or more of them get together 
to sing and pray for themselves ; sometimes thirty or 
forty ; and are so earnestly engaged, alternately sing- 
ing, praying and crying, that they know not how to 
part." 

This school, by far the largest in England, was in- 
structed by eighty teachers, all of whom *' offeredi 
their services willingly, without any pecuniary fee or 
reward." 



IN VIRGINIA. 297 

From the year 1785, wherever Methodist mission- 
aries have been sent they have labored to establish 
Sunday Schools on the principle of gratuitous instruc- 
tion. It was not till about the close of the last cen- 
tury that other Churches seemed to feel the necessity 
of conducting their Sunday Schools on the same 
principle. 

It has been stated on good authority that **the 
Sunday School Society formed in England in 1785, 
expended during the first fifteen years nearly five 
thousand pounds sterling in hiring teachers, our 
people (Methodists) only refusing to receive compen- 
sation, although in connection with that Society." 

The impulse given this noble cause in England 
was soon felt in America. Asbury, the Wesley of 
the I^ew World, was the first to open a Sunday School 
in Hanover county, Virginia. This school was taught 
in the house of Thomas Crenshaw, one of the first 
members of our Church in that section of the State. 
The pious labors of the pioneer teachers in this school 
were crowned of God in the conversion of a immber 
of the scholars, among whom was a colored boy, 
John Charlson, who afterward became a local preacher 
and labored with Zealand success for more than forty 
years. Other schools were probably established in 
different sections of the work, but of this no positive 
information, so far as we know, remains on record. 

The subject came before the Conferences of 1790, 
and their action is thus given in Jesse Lee's history: 

'* What can be done in order to instruct poor chil- 
dren (white and black) to read ?" 

** Let us labor, as the heart and soul of one man to 
25 



298 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

establish Sunday Schools, in or near the place of pnb- 
lic worship. Let persons be appointed by the Bishops, 
Elders, Deacons, or Preachers, to teach (gratis) all 
that will attend, and have a capacity to learn ; from 
six o'clock in the morning till ten ; and from two 
o'clock in the afternoon till six ; where it does not 
interfere with public worship. The Council shall 
compile a proper school book to teach them learning 
and piety." 

Under this action, Sunday Schools were estab- 
lished in many places, and for some time cheering 
signs appeared of success in this new field of Chris- 
tian enterprise. But unhappily for the Church and 
the children committed to her care, apathy took the 
place of zeal ; in some places the schools were neg- 
lected, in others the ardor of the teachers was damped 
by persecution, and within a few years this interest- 
ing work was altogether abandoned. Every lover of 
Sunday Schools must lament that the Church gave up 
such a work, instead of pushing it forward with all 
Jier energy and with all the means at her command. 

Thirteen Conferences were held for the year 1791 ; 
three of these met in Virginia. The first at Peters- 
burg, April 20th; the second in Hanover, on the 
26th; the third at Alexandria, May 2nd. These 
were small bodies held for the convenience of the 
preachers on the circuits nearest to the places men- 
tioned. Asbury barely refers to them. Of the first 
he says : *' The business of our Conference was 
brought on ia peace; and there was a blessing at- 
tended our speaking, in our experiences, and iii 
prayer." Of that in Hanover, he says : " We sat at 



IN VIRGINIA. 299 

B. Clayton's, and were amply provided for ; we has- 
tened our business." Of the Alexandria Confer- 
ence there is not a syllable. Dr. Coke was present at 
all these Conferences, in company with Asbury t at 
Alexandria he received certain intelligence of the 
death of "Wesley, and hastened northward to find a 
passage to England. 

The membership in Virginia was reported at 13,376 
whites, and 3,827 blacks ; the increase was not quite 
1000. Ko new circuit was added within the limits 
of the State. Death had spared all the laborers in 
the Virginia field. 

The Conference year was shortened by several 
months, by Asbury returning on his southern tour 
early in December. Under date of the seventh of 
this month, he writes : ** A day to be remembered. 
We stopped once in forty-three miles. "When we 
reached Oxen Hill Ferry, opposite Alexandria, I was 
nearly frozen, being hardly able to walk or talk. 
"We crossed the Potomac in an open boat on whose 
icy bottom the horses with difiiculty kept their feet ; 
and still worse it would have been, had I not 
thoughtfully called for some straw to strew beneath 
them ; we had five of them on board, and the waves 
were high." 

On Wednesday, the 14th, Conference met at **Bro. 
Dickenson's, in Caroline county ; all was peace and 
love. We had searching work with speaking expe- 
rience, and in examining the young men who offered 
as candidates for the ministry." . This Conference 
opened on Wednesday evening, and closed on Friday 
morning ** after fasting and prayer." Asbury passed 



300 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

on through Eichmond, Manchester and Petersburg, 
to Lane's Chapel in Sussex county, where, on Friday, 
December 23d, our Conference began and ended in 
peace." 

It appears strange to us to read of a Conference 
opening and closing the same day ; but it must be 
remembered tbat at many of these meetings little 
more was done than to admit candidates on trial, re- 
ceive the returns of members, examine the characters 
of the preachers, and re-appoint them to the work, 
all of which was often done by the Bishop in a few 
hours, there being usually not more than fifteen or 
twenty preachers in attendance. 

For 1792 seventeen Conferences, were held, begin- 
ning, as we have seen, in Virginia, in December, 
1791, and extending southward during the winter, 
then turning northward, and ending at Albany, ITew 
York, in August, 1792. In the Spring, on his re- 
turn from the south, Asbury held two Conferences in 
the western part of the State ; one in the Holston 
country, May the fifteenth ; the other in Greenbrier 
county, on the 22nd of the same month ; making 
four Conferences held in Virginia during the Con- 
ference year. 

The membership in the State was reported at 14,- 
099 whites, and 3,923 blacks. Ko new circuits were 
added. ITo death had occurred among the preachers, 
several retired from the intinerant to the local ranks; 
among the most prominent of these, were John Eas- 
ter and Lewis Chastain, men of great purity, great 
power, and great success, as ministers of Christ. 
Among the number received on trial in the Virginia 



IN VIRGINIA. 301 

Conference the name of Stith Mead deserves honor- 
able mention. He was born in Bedford county, Vir- 
ginia, September, 26th, 1767. His father. Colonel 
William Mead, was a farmer of considerable wealth, 
and served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. 
His parents were members of the Protestant Episco- 
pal Church, his father holding the office of vestryman. 
He was religiously impressed at an early age, and 
although taken to Church regularly, found but little 
encouragement for his pious inclinations. "What 
were called ** civil entertainments" were indulged in 
as eagerly by church people as by the openly wicked. 

Dancing, card-playing, fox-hunting, horse-racing, 
chicken-fighting, running, jumping, and WTestling 
formed the staple of these ** entertainments." 

In all of these save card-playing, young Mead be- 
came a proficient ; this he regarded as a " detestable 
sport" and resolved never to acquaint himself with it. 
His youthful mind was deeply impressed by the re- 
ligious conversation of his father's servants. For 
hours he would sit among them in their cabins at 
night, and listen to their rude talk about *' Heaven 
and hell," evil spirits and the various punishments that 
would be inflicted on people guilty of such and such 
crimes. 

From these scenes he would creep off to bed where 
the impressions were deepened by terrible dreams. 
In this state of mind he resolved to lead a new life, 
at least a moral one. He broke off from many evil 
practices, and at times "felt elated at the idea of 
going to heaven, and that he was not as bad as oth- 
ers in the world." 
25* 



302 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

In his eighteentli year, Ms father having previously 
removed to Georgia, he was pnt to school at Angusta. 
Here his religious exercises continued with increasing 
distress of mind. Hearing that one of the teachers 
in the school had studied divinity, he applied to him 
for instruction. He was advised by the teacher to 
pray. The next day he committed to memory a form 
of prayer which he found in a spelling book. In his 
room he got upon his knees for three nights succes- 
sively and repeated his form of prayer. '' This," he 
says, ** was the first time of my getting on my knees 
to pray from a conviction of mind that I was not 
ready to die." These good signs, however, soon 
passed away, and he again became careless about his 
soul. In 1789, when about twenty-two years of age, 
he came to Virginia on business. He reached Bed- 
ford in the midst of a great revival. Methodists, 
Baptists and Presbyterians shared alike in the gra- 
cious outpourings of the Spirit. 

He attended the meetings, but his heart was full 
of pride and vanity, and he set himself against the 
work of the Lord. At length conviction fastened 
upon his soul. He struggled against it, but to no 
purpose. The arrows of the Almighty stuck fast in 
him. The preachers in the circuit were Richard 
Pope, Christopher S. Mooring, assisted by John 
Ayers, for many years a useful and highly esteemed 
local preacher. Mead attended one of their meet- 
ings, and thus describes his feelings under the appeals 
addressed to him by these men of God: 

**I felt hard under Ayers, a slight impression un- 
der Mooring, and under Pope the power of God came 



IN VIRGINIA. 303 

upon me, and cast me out of the chair on the floor. 
I was like the man in the gospel, torn hy the foul 
spirit; the burden of my sius was so great, and I 
had so plain a discovery of my lost and undone state, 
that if my next step was to have been in hell, I do 
not suppose more horrid shrieks and doleful cries 
could have been uttered." He did not here find 
peace. He thus describes his exercises at another 
meeting. The preacher was Pope ; the word was 
like a two-edged sword : * ' I fell among the slain, 
and they were many ; on my first recollection, I found 
myself on my back on the floor, groaning for deliv- 
erance. I was carried out of the house by some 
friendly hands, and laid under the shade of a tree, 
the house being so crowded that the people trod one 
upon another." Soon after this he found peace, and 
gave himself wholly to the work of God. 

Methodism has had few laborers more faithful and 
efificient than Stith Mead. Without being a great, he 
was always a successful preacher. His love for Christ 
was ardent, his zeal knew no bounds, his faith was 
strong and active, his power in prayer was remarka- 
ble. Seven years he labored in the hardest fields in 
Virginia. He was then transferred to the South, 
and stationed at Augusta. Here in the face of great 
difficulties he organized a Society, and finally suc- 
ceeded in building a house of worship. His account 
of the state of. religion in Augusta, when he arrived 
there, cannot fail to interest the reader. In a letter 
to Bishop Asbury he says : 

<'I lament to say that this city, though the metrop- 
olis of Georgia, is the seat and nursery of Infidelity, 



304 MEMOEIALS OF METHODISM 

Atheism, Deism, Materialism, Fatalism, Diabolism, 
&c. The apostate, B. A., (Beverly Allen) and others 
have done great injury to the cause of Methodism. 
In a census of about 4,000 souls in the city I know 
of none who knew their right hand from their left 
in religion." He could find no place to board, even 
among his own kindred, many of whom had removed 
from Virginia and settled in and near the city. In 
this dilemma he determined to form a two weeks' 
circuit and spend one week in Georgia and one in 
South Carolina, the Savannah Kiver exactly dividing 
his little field. He was allowed to preach in the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, but his plain and search- 
ing sermon so offended many of his hearers, that on 
the following Sabbath they refused to permit the 
church-bell to be rung for service. 

His most violent opponents having threatened to 
pull him out of the pulpit, and to impale him on a 
stake and carry him out of town, he deemed it pru- 
dent to withdraw from the church altogether. lie 
found a refuge in the house of Mr. Ebenezer Doughty. 
Here he preached and formed a class of six persons. 
This was the origin of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Augusta. 

Having labored two years in this field, he was 
appointed Presiding Elder of the Georgia District. 
In this vast Territory he preached with great success. 
In conjunction with Hope Hull, Nicholas Snethen, 
and other men of the same stamp, he held many 
camp-meetings, at which thousands were converted, 
and the foundation of Methodism in Georgia firmly 
laid. After spending several years in the South, he 



-7^ 



IN VIRGINIA. 305 

returned to tlie Yirginia CoDference, and for a long 
period toiled in every departmeat of the itinerancy 
with unusual success. Like many who have given 
the strength of their days to the Church, this good 
and useful man became the victim of misfortune in 
the latter part of his life, and with a large family on 
his hands felt keenly the pinchings of poverty. But 
his faith in God never failed him, his love for Christ 
and his cause never grew cold ; to the last he labored 
for souls, and joyfully receive^ the summons to 
cease from toil and enter into rest. His acquaintance 
with Asbury, Coke and Whatcoat was intimate, and 
among his manuscripts are many letters from these 
and other leading men in the Church, showing how 
highly he was esteemed and loved as a fellow-laborer. 
He left a voluminous journal, containing much valu- 
able information in regard to the progress of Meth- 
odism in Virginia and the Southern States. The 
labors of this venerable man will often come under 
review in the course of our narrative. There was no 
place where he was unwilling to toil for souls, and 
in no place did he ever toil without seeing the fruit 
of his labor. Under his ministry many were con- 
verted who became ornaments to the Church, and 
not a few were knoWn in after years as brilliant and 
successful preachers. This brief tribute is due to the 
memory of one of the fathers of our Israel, who, 
while he lived, was a burning and a shining light, 
and who now rests amid the blessed in heaven. 

Fortunately, we are able to give the reader a pic- 
ture of one of our early Conferences from the jour- 
nal of Stith Mead. It is the earliest and fullest ac- 



306 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

count of Conference proceedings in detail tliat we 
iiave been able to find : 

* ' Monday, 21st of May, 1792. We rode over Peter's 
Mountain by the Sweet Springs, to Brother Edward 
Keenan's at Reboboth Cbapel, Sinks of Greenbrier 
county, where I was glad to meet with the bishop, Eev. 
Francis Asbury ; Hope Hull, Philip Cox, Jeremiah 
Abel, elders ; Salathiel Weeks, John Lindsey, Ben- 
nett Maxey, and John Metcalf, deacons. John Kob- 
ier, remaining on trial, was received into connexion 
and ordained a deacon. James Ward and Stith Mead 
admitted on trial as probationers. Rev. Samuel 
Mitchell, local preacher, ordained deacon ; Jeremiah 
Abel located. The above named preachers were all 
that composed and had basiness with the present 
Annual Conference. Bennett Maxey and John 
Kobler, by requests of the Bishop, related to the 
Conference their religious experience, and then the 
Conference adjourned until Tuesday at 8 o'clock, 
A. M., at which time J. Kobler, Geo. Martin, S. 
Mead were examined by the Bishop before the Con- 
ference, 1st, of our debts, 2dly, of our faith in 
Christ, 3dly, of our pursuits after holiness. The 
Bishop preached in the Chapel, which was near, at 
the usual hour, from Deut. v:*27, *^Go thou near, 
and hear all that the Lord our God shall say ; and 
speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall 
speak unto thee, and we will hear it and do it." Bro- 
ther Hope Hull preached from 1 Cor. i ; 23, ^ ' But 
we preach Christ crucified." 

This afternoon I was requested by the Bishop to 



IN VIRGINIA. 307 

relate to the Conference my religious experience, 
which I accordingly did. 

The appointments or stations were received from 
the Bishop this evening as follows : No presiding 
elder. Holston circuit, Salathiel Weeks, James 
Ward; Botetourt circuit, Bennett Maxey, Stith 
Mead ; Bedford circuit, John Metcalf, George Mar- 
tin ; Greenbrier circuit, John Kobler ; Cow Pasture 
circuit, John Lindsey. 

Wednesday, 23rd. When met in Conference, 
we were all examined by the Bishop as to our Con- 
fession of Faith and orthodoxy of doctrine, agreea- 
bly to the economy of Wesleyaa Methodism. On a 
close examination it was discovered that. two of the 
preachers composing the present session of Confer- 
ence, namely, John Lindsey and George Martin, 
coming from the district where the Rev. James 
O'Kelly was the presiding elder, had imbibed hetero- 
dox opinions from him tending to TJnitarianism. All 
the Conference were now requested by Bishop Asbury 
to bring forward all the Scripture texts they could 
recollect to prove the personality of the Trinity, and 
particularly that of the Holy Ghost ; at which time 
these two preachers recanted their errors in doctrine, 
and were continued in Methodist fellowship. Bishop 
Asbury preached at the usual hour, Titus ii : 1, "But 
speak thou the things which become sound doctrine." 
Rev. Hope Hull preached after the Bishop from 1 
John iv : 17, ** Herein is our love made perfect, that 
we may have boldness in the day of Judgment, 
because as he is so are we in this world." A moving, 
melting time occurred during the sequel of this dis- 



308 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

course ; tlie holy Sacrament was administered ; God 
manifested himself in his Spirit's power, the doors 
were opened, sinners came in, and there was a great 
shaking among the dry bones. Sach a time, as I 
suppose, was never seen and experienced at this place 
before ; ten souls were converted and many sinners 
cut to the^ heart. The lively exercises continued 
until near sundown. 

Thursday, 24th. John Lindsey, Salathiel Weeks, 
and Bennett Maxey were ordained elders ; John 
Kobler and Samuel Mitchell were ordained deacons. 
This is a rough, uncultivated country in soil, ways, 
and manners ; the Conference was held in a log-body 
cabin-house-, the residence of Brother G. Keenan, of 
Irish national descent. Our accommodation was the 
best in this part of the world. 

*' The Conference broke about ten o'clock; we 
took leave of each other, and departed to our respec- 
tive circuits." We have preferred to give the account 
of this Conference literally from the journal. 

It may be taken as a fair type of most of the Con- 
ferences held at that period. We see how closely 
the early preachers watched over each other in Chris- 
tian experience and in doctrine. That is a deeply 
interesting scene in which the whole Conference 
comes forward with Scriptural proof to convince two 
beloved brethren who had been seduced from the 
true faith by a zealous but wrong-headed presiding 
elder ; and then the sermons of Asbury and Hull 
immediately following, were admirably adapted to 
confirm and admonish these two brethren, who had 
flung away their errors, and again firmly laid hold on 



IN VIRGINIA. 309 

the truth as it is in Jesus. God set tlie seal of his 
approval to the work of this little Conference, by the 
gracious revival in the midst of which it closed. 
Each man went to his field of toil with the pure flame 
of love burning in his soul, and the rugged region 
embraced in the Greenbrier Conference felt the re- 
freshing showers of grace. 

On the Botetourt circuit, under the labors of 
Maxey and Mead, more than three hundred were 
added to the Church. The scenes which sometimes 
occurred at the meetings, held in little log-churches, 
or in the cabins of the settlers, were of the most ex- 
citing character. The wonderful works of God were 
seen by saints and sinners. The most violent oppo- 
sers of religion were often smitten to the ground and 
forced to confess their sins and cry for mercy. 

During the progress of a gracious revival at the 
house of a pious member of the Church, his brother, 
a furious opposer of all religion, came to the place, 
swearing that he would beat the preacher, and break 
up the meeting. 

Under the sermon, ** he was struck with the power 
of God," the use of his limbs was entirely lost, and 
he lay roaring in the anguish of his soul. He began 
to gnash his teeth, and seemed to be really possessed 
by the Devil He was placed on a bed in the house, 
and the preacher, S. Mead, engaged in a prayer for 
him. When the prayer was over he lay apparently 
helpless on the bed ; his face wore a strange expres- 
sion ; his look was fearful ; for the space of a min- 
ute he gazed at the preacher in silence, then suddenly 
made a grasp at his throat. The blow was warded 
26 



810 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

off, when lie fell back and exclaimed : " That is what 
the devil sent me here for to-day ; now I am paid for 
it." He struck his brother violently several times as 
lie held him in the bed, insisting that he loved his 
brother too well to hurt him if he could help it. He 
would make attempts to leap through the window ; 
sometimes he could scarcely move a limb, and at other 
times, six strong men could hardly bold him in the 
bed. He would exclaim aloud: '*I am going to 
hell this moment, this moment I am going to hell. 
0, that I should ever raise children that sbould say 
their father is gone to bell !" His cries of anguish 
could be heard at a great distance. 

Thus he lay till the close of the day ; at nightfall 
his friends took him to the door quite helpless and 
bathed his hands and face. Many became alarmed, 
thinking he was near death. Through the night he 
lay, with intervals of rest and fary. The presence 
of the preacher whom he had come to punish seemed 
to increase his torments, and he withdrew altogether 
from the room. He attempted to bite the watchers 
by his bedside ; he pulled a bandage from his head, 
and "tore it in pieces with his teeth. Thus was he 
tormented by the foul fiend through the entire night. 
As the day broke, the light of grace broke on his 
benighted soul ; the demon that seemed really to 
possess him was rebuked and cast out, and he rose, 
" clothed and in his right mind." He soon after 
received a clear manifestation of the pardon of his 
sins. He was the means of convincing many of his 
neighbors, his wife was soon converted, a society was 
formed at his house, and he was appointed " class 



IN VIRGINIA. 311 

leader for God, as he had been ring leader for 
Satan." Thus God wrought in power amid the 
rugged mountains of Western Virginia, and many 
noble trophies of the cross were gathered from a pop- 
ulation in a high degree rude and uncultivated. 
Methodism took firm root in a soil broken in many 
places for the first time by her zealous laborers^ and 
has ever since borne rich and abundant fruits. 

The trials and sufiTerhigs cheerfully endured by our 
preachers in the West, prove their genuine heroism. 
Asbury was ever in the van as the great leader of our 
Israel. He thus narrates his perils in coming through 
the wilderness from Kentucky to Virginia : 

" An alarm was spreading of a depredation com- 
mitted by the- Indians on the east and west frontiers 
of the settlement. In the former, report says one 
man was killed. In the latter, many men, with 
women and children. Every thing is in motion. 
There having been so many about me at Conference, 
my resLwas much broken. I hope J now to regain 
it, and get refreshed before I set out to return through 
the wilderness ; but the continual arrival of people 
until midnight, the barking of dogs, and other an- 
noyances prevented. 

-Next night we reached the Crab Orchard, where 
thirty or forty people were compelled to crowd into 
one mean house. We could get no more rest here 
than we did in the wilderness. We came the old way 
by Scagg's Creek and Eock Castle, supposing it to be 
safer, as it was a road less frequented and therefore 
less liable to be waylaid by the savages. My body by 
this time is well tired. I had a violent fever and 



312 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

pain in the head, such as I had not lately felt. 1 
stretched myself on the cold ground, and borrowing 
clothes to keep me warm, by the mercy of God I 
slept four or five hours, l^ext morning we set off 
early and passed beyond Richland Creek. Here we 
were in danger, if anywhere. I could have slept, but 
was afraid. Seeing the drowsiness of the company, 
I walked the encampment, and watched the sentries 
the whole night. Early next morning we made our 
way to Eobinson's Station. We had the best com- 
pany I ever met with — thivty-six good travellers and 
a few warriors ; but we had a pack-horse, some old 
men, and two tired horses — these were not the best 
part." Reaching a place of safety he writes : *^Rest 
poor house of clay from such exertions ! Return, 0, 
my soul to thy rest !" 

In these long and dangerous journeys he deplored 
the loss of strict communion with God. This, he says, 
was occasioned by ** constant riding, change of place, 
company, and sometimes disagreeable compamy, loss 
of sleep, and the difficulties of clambering over rocks 
and mountains, and journeying at the rate of seven 
or eight hundred miles per month, and sometimes forty 
or fifty miles a day." 

Through all this work he dragged a body weak 
and sickly, but animated by a spirit as pure and he- 
roic as heaven ever gave to mortal man. And yet 
this man was the victim of calumny; the shafts of 
his enemies, keen and poisoned, reached even the 
eminence on which he stood ; but his armor was im- 
penetrable ; they fell harmless at his feet 



IN VIRGINIA. 313 



CHAPTER IX. 

First schism in America Methodism — James O'Kelly — His suc- 
cess as a preacher — His influence in Virginia — Opposition to 
••The Council" — Assails Asbury — General Conference of 1792 — 
O'Kelly proposes an amendment to the rules — A heated dis- 
cussion — The amendment fails — O'Kelly retires from the 
body — Returns to Virginia and raises a party — Formally with- 
draws from the Church — "Republican Methodists" — Painful 
results of the schism— O'Kelly changes the name of his Church 
— New parties— Causes of failure — Fierce attacks on Asbury — 
Reaction — Meeting of Asbury and O'Kelly — Death of O'Kel- 
ly — Conferences of 1793 — Methodism in "Western Virginia — 
Edward and Samuel Mitchell — Conferences of 1794 — Pastoral 
Address — Discontent in the churches — Conferences of 1795 — 
Heavy decrease in members— Conference of 1796— Happy in- 
fluence of the session — Loss of preachers — Reuben Ellis — Rich- 
ard Joy — Stephen Davis— Asbury in the wilderness— Thrilling 
narrative. 

DOWl^ to the year 1792 the American Methodist 
Church had successfully resisted external assaults 
and internal dissensions. The question of ordinances, 
and that of slavery, had agitated, without severing 
the Church. From this year the first serious rupture, 
known as the O'Kellyan Schism, must be dated. 
James O'Kelly, the leader in this movement, had 
long been a prominent and popular travelling preacher. 
His name appears on the Minutes as early as 1778. 
From his first appearance in public he showed more 
than ordinary ability as a speaker. 
26* 



314 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

He opened his^ ministry as a local preacher in an 
old Colonial Church, in the southern part -of the 
State, about the middle of the Revolutionary war. 
The parish minister was greatly enraged that an up- 
start Methodist preacher should have the temerity to 
preach in his chapel ; and what was worse, that he 
should attract more people than the regular Successor 
of the Apostles. 

In spite of the curate's violent opposition, he con- 
tinued to preach in the chapel for more than a year, 
with increasing success. The people flocked to hear 
him, and great was the work of God under his pow- 
erful exhortations and earnest prayers. The next 
year he joined Asbury's Ironsides. He soon took a 
high position in the ranks of Methodism. He was 
one of the thirteen preachers selected by the Christ- 
mas Conference for the office of Elder; and from 
this period until his withdrawal from the Church, he 
continued without interruption to fill the office of 
Presiding Elder. During the whole of his time he 
labored on what was called the " South District of 
Virginia," which embraced nearly all the Southern 
counties of the State, with a portion of Korth Caro- 
lina. He exercised great influence over the preachers 
and people in this part of the work, and as a leader 
was regarded as hardly second to Asbury. lie was 
the President of the Quarterly Conference, when 
William McKendree was recommended to the An- 
nual Conference, and was regarded with peculiar 
veneration by his young friend. As we shall see, 
by his powerful influence, McKendree was for a time 



IN YIRGINIA. 315 

alienated from Asbury, and went so far as to with- 
draw temporarily from the itinerant work. 

One of O'Kelly's contemporaries describes him as 
* laborious in the ministry, a man of zeal and useful- 
ness, an advocate for holiness, given to prayer and 
fasting, an able defender of the Methodist doctrine 
and faith, and hard against negro slavery, in. private 
and from the press and pulpit." 

Asbury and O'Kelly first met in Korth Carolina 
in 1780; the impression he made on the mind of 
Asbury was favorable. He " appeared to be a warm- 
hearted, good man." Again he writes: ** James 
O'Kelly and myself enjoyed and comforted each 
other ; this dear man rose at midnight and prayed 
very devoutly for me and himself. He cries, give 
me children or I die." 

Such wfls O'Kelly in the early years of his minis- 
try. The first decided opposition towards Asbury 
and his plans was evinced by him shortly after the 
adjournment of the first Council in 1789. He was 
a member of that body, and, while in session, ** ap- 
peared to be united to the plan, and to the members." 
**But after he returned to Virginia," says Jesse Lee, 
*^he exclaimed bitterly against the proceedings and 
against what he himself had done in the business. 
He refused to have anything at all to do with the 
second Council." 

The supposition that prevailed at the time respect- 
ing this sudden change in his views, was, that he had 
gone to the first Council with the hope of being pro- 
moted in the Church, and, being wholly disappointed, 
he returned home greatly mortified and determined to 



316 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

throw his powerful influence against the Council and 
all its measures. It was no doubt mainly through 
his management that the Council was " turned out 
of doors" at the Virginia Conference of 1790. 

There can be but little doubt that his spirit was 
tainted by ambition. It is said that an English law- 
yer, a man of infidel principles, who, strange to say, 
admired the Methodist Church, and witnessed, with 
many expressions of regret, the O'Kellyan Schism, 
advised Jesse Lee and other leading ministers to 
make 'Kelly a Bishop. ^*For," said he, *^ if you 
will let him share that dreaded power with Asbury, 
he will no longer fear it." The history of O'Kelly's 
movements shows that the lawyer was nearer right 
than wrong. 

Besides this, we are compelled, from the history of 
the times, to write him a heretic. **He denied," 
says Dr. Lee, ''the distinct personality of the Holy 
Trinity. He affirmed that instead of distinct persons 
in the Godhead, the terms Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost, were only intended to represent three offices 
of one glorious and Eternal Being.-' It was a favorite 
expression, as we learn from a living contemporary, 
that '' God was Father from eternity, Redeemer in 
time, and Sanctifier for evermore." Of the truth of 
this charge we have already seen the proof in the 
proceedings of the Greenbrier Conference. He had 
raised doubts of the personality of the Trinity in the 
minds of two preachers from his District who were 
present at that Conference, and they only renounced 
their heretical opinions when their brethren con- 
fronted them with overwhelming Scriptural evi- 



IN VIRGINIA. 317 

dence of the true doctrine. This was in May, six 
months before the meeting of the General Confer- 
ence of 1792. We may well believe that a man so 
bold and confident as O'Kelly would not hesitate to 
give expression to his doctrinal views, and there is 
little doubt that many were led astray from the truth 
in the large District over which he presided so long. 

His opposition to Asbury is boldly expressed in a 
letter to him, written in January, 1790. *' I re- 
ceived," says Asbury, **a letter from the presiding 
elder of this District, (South District of Virginia,) 
James O'Kelly. He makes heavy complaints of my 
power, and bids me stop for one year, or he must 
use his influence against me. Power ! power ! there 
is not a vote given in a Conference in which the pre- 
siding elder has not greatly the advantage of me ; all 
the influence I am to gain over a company of young 
men in a District must be done in three weeks ; the 
greater part of them, perhaps, are seen by me only 
at Conference, w^hilst the presiding elder has had 
them with him all the year, and has the greatest op- 
portunity of gaining influence. This advantage may 
be abused : let the bishops look to it ; but who has 
the power to lay an embargo on me, and to make of 
none efiect the decision of all the Conferences of the 
union ?" One man, it would seem, fancied he pos- 
sessed such power, and that man was James O'Kelly." 

The influence of O'Kelly was used against Asbury 
with a success that should have satisfied any man who 
had not determined to rule or ruin the Church. The 
Council was O'Kelly's favorite hobby : he kept be- 
fore the preachers and people the great evil of the 



318 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Council; magnified tlie power of Asbury as a Bisliop 
until many were impressed with the belief that a 
great, overshadowing, ecclesiastical tyranny, was 
growing up in the Methodist Church. During his 
travels in Virginia, in the summer of 1790, Asbury 
saw the sad effects of O'Kelly's influence, and when 
he reached the Leesburg Conference, in August of 
that year, he showed a noble disinterestedness, as 
pleasing as it is rare. He says: "To conciliate the 
minds of our brethren in the South District of Vir- 
ginia, who are restless about the Council, I wrote their 
leader a letter, informing him, * that I would take 
my seat in Council as another member;' and, in that 
point, at least, waive the claims of episcopacy ; yea, 
I would lie down and be trodden upon, rather than 
knowingly injure one soul." 

This letter, with others of the same character from 
Asbury to the leaders of the opposition in Virginia, 
seems to have softened their spirits towards him. 

Under date of September 21, 1791, he writes: 

" I received the olive branch from Virginia. All 
is peace — ^it was obtained by a kind letter from me to 
O'Kelly. " But the peace was of short duration ; O'Kelly 
was maturing a plan by which he hoped to take 
out of the hands of Asbury the appointing power, 
and thus introduce the principle of Republicanism, as 
he called it, into the economy of Methodism. 

The General Conference assembled at Baltimore, 
November 1st, 1792. It was a meeting of great in- 
terest to preachers and people. No such assemblage 
had been held since the Christmas Conference of 
1784. The Council had proved an utter failure. It 



IN VIRGINIA. 319 

was supposed, however, that an eflort would be made 
to revive it. **Bat we were agreeably disappointed," 
says Jesse Lee, *'for soon after we met together the 
Bishops and the preachers in general, showed a dis- 
position to drop the Council and all things belonging 
thereto. And the Bishop requested that the name of 
the Council might not be mentioned in the Con- 
ference." 

The triumph of O'Kelly over the unfortunate 
Council emboldened him to advance his favorite 
scheme. The most important business of the Con- 
ference was the revision of the Discipline. It was 
during the general discussion on this subject that 
O'Kelly brought forward an amendment to one of the 
fundamental regulations of the Church. This amend- 
ment involved the destruction of the itinerant system, 
by proposing to give a preacher the right to appeal 
from the decision of the Bishop in his appointments, 
and to the Conference the authority to order a change 
in the appointment. 

The amendment was in the following words : 

'* After the Bishop appoints the preachers at Con- 
ference to their several circuits, if any one think 
himself injured by the appointment, he shall have 
liberty to appeal to the Conference and state his ob- 
jections, and if the Conference approve his objections 
the Bishop shall appoint him to another circuit." ^ 

This startling proposition filled the minds of some 
with surprise, of others with sorrow. As it directly 
involved the administration of Asbury, he retired 
from the body, leaving Dr. Coke to preside. He 
wrote a short letter to the Conference in which he 



320 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

says: ^'I am happy in the consideration that I '\ 
never stationed a preacher through enmity, or as a 
punishment. I have acted for the glory of God, the 

good of the people, and to promote the usefulness of i 

the preachers." He felt calm and secure in his con- i 

scious integrity. The debate on the amendment was \ 
highly exciting. The ablest men of Methodism w^ere 

arrayed against each other. Three days the strife j 

went on. At first there appeared to be a majority in j 

favor of O'Kelly. The friends of the time-honored j 

Wesley an plan, feared that it would be swept away ! 

by the spirit of innovation. At length, by a skillful ' 
manoeuvre, John Dickms, one cf the ablest men in 

the body, brought the question to a direct issue. He : 

proposed a division of the subject, thus : \ 

1st. '^ Shall the Bishop appoint the preachers to the [ 
circuits ?" 

2. ** Shall a preacher be allowed an appeal?" 
After some discussion the motion to divide was car- 
ried. The first question was then put to the vote 

and carried unanimously. When the Conference ; 

took up the second question a difficulty was started, j 

whether this was to be considered a new rule, or ; 

merely an amendment of an old one. If regarded as \ 

a new rule, it could only pass by a two-thirds vote, j 

After a long debate it was decided to be an amend- | 

ment. The Conference by this action came back to ; 

the question as originally proposed. ** Our rule for ; 
debates," says Jesse Lee, " was * that each person, if 

he choose, shall have liberty to speak three times on ! 

each motion. ' By dividing the question, and then com- | 

ing back to where we were at first, we were kept on the ] 



IN VIRGINIA, 321 

appeal for two or three days. On Monday we began 
the debate afresh, and continued it through the day ; 
and at night we went to Mr. Otterbine's church, and 
again continued it till near bed-time, when the vote 
was taken, and the motion was lost by a large major- 
ity." The next morning a letter was received from 
O'Kelly and a few of his adherents, informing the 
Conference that as their resolution had been rejected, 
they could no longer retain their seats in that body. 
Efforts were at once made to conciliate them ; a com- 
mittee was appointed to wait on O'Kelly and his 
party, and if possible to persuade them to resume 
their seats ; but the effort utterly failed. Dr. Coke 
had a personal interview with them, but his influence 
was powerless. O'Kelly raised many objections 
against him and the Conference ; and expressed his 
firm purpose to have nothing more to do with their 
deliberations. 

A few days after he and his partizans set out on 
their return to Virginia, '* taking their saddle-bags, 
great coats and other bundles on their shoulders or 
arms, and walking on foot to the place where they had 
left their horses, which was about twelve miles from 
town." 

** I stood and looked after them," says Jesse Lee, 
*< as they went off, and observed to one of the preach- 
ers that I was sorry to see the old man go oft' in that 
way, for I was persuaded he would not be quiet long, 
but he would try to be the head of some party." 

The preacher replied that he knew that O'Kelly 
bad denied the doctrine of the Trinity, and that he 
had determined to prefer charges against him for 
27 



322 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

preaching heresy, and that he believed his fear of 
being brought to trial, had as strongly influenced him 
to leave as the failure of his appeal. 

Asbury makes a brief allusion to his departure. 
**Mr. O'Kelly, being disappointed in not getting an 
appeal from any station made by me, withdrew from 
the connexion and went off. For himself the Con- 
ference well knew he could not complain of the reg- 
ulation. He had been located to the South District 
of Virginia for about ten succeeding years ; and 
upon his plan, might have located himself, and any 
preacher, or set of preachers, to the District, whether 
the people wished to have them or not." 

The General Conference closed on the 14th of 
November, and on the 26th, Asbury opened the Vir- 
ginia Conference at Manchester. Here two of the 
disaffected preachers, "William McKendree and Rice 
Haggard, sent him "their resignation in writing." 
*'We agreed," says Asbury to let our displeased 
brethren still preach among us ; and as Mr. O'Kelly 
is almost worn out, the Conference acceded to my 
proposal of giving him his forty pounds per annum 
as when he travelled in the connexion, provided he 
was peaceable, and forbore to excite divisions 
among the brethren." For a portion of the year, 
O'Kelly consented to receive this money, for which 
he was indebted to the generosity of Asbury, but 
afterward refused it, and broke the last link that 
bound him to Methodism. 

^^ The feelings of McKendree were, however, not 
long alienated from Asbury and from the Church, 
The most probable account of his course has been 



IN YIROINIA. 323 

furnished by the venerable Henry Snaith: '*From a 
conversation with Mr. McKendree, I learned that the 
character of Bishop Asbury had been shamefully mis- 
represented to him by Mr. O'Kelly, and that on this 
account he obtained leave to travel with the Bishop, 
and, indeed, made it the condition of his remaining 
in the itinerancy. It is quite needless to say, that 
an intimate acquaintance with the beloved Bishop 
created a confidence and a friendship which each suc- 
ceeding year cemented the more strongly till they were 
separated by death." 

As a part of the history of the times, we are en- 
abled to lay before the reader two original letters of 
O'Kelly, supposed to have been written a few months 
after his withdraw^al from the General Conference. 

They show the spirit of the man, and the nature of 
his complaints against Asbury. 

'* To Dear Brother Kicholson, Local Preacher : 
0, my brother ! Alas ! my brother. I beseech 
God to grant you a share in every blessing of the 
everlasting covenant. 0, brother, the heart knows 
its own bitterness. I am too often giving way to the 
overflowings of a full heart. 0, the heart-breaking 
thoughts ! — the Methodist preachers who stood to- 
gether like regular soldiers, are now afraid of each 
other, as you told me last evening you feared me. 
Fearful prelude to a universal decline, or a fearful sep- 
aration ! Find out the cause ; search for the Achan. 
One there is in our camps ; and if the lot justly 
falls on me, cast me away, and there will be a calm. 
But be sure, before God, to give me justice. I am 



324 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

not given to change. A Methodist I am, and how 
can I change. The elders to the E"orth, not know- 
ing what to accuse me of, make me their table laugh, 
still I am loth to go away. 

''"What have I done? Overturned government? 
What? the Council^not Methodism. I only say no 
man among us ought to get into the Apostle's chair 
with the Keys, and stretch a lordly power over the 
ministers and Kingdom of Christ. 'Tis a human 
invention, a quicksand; and when my grey hairs 
may he preserved under ground, I may he remem- 
bered. We ought to respect the body before any 
mere man. A consolidated government is always 
bad. We have published that we believed a General 
Conference to be injurious to the Church. District 
Conferences have lost their suffrages ; men of wit 
will leave the travelling connection. Boys with their 
Keys, under the absolute sway of one who declares 
his authority and succession from the Apostles — these 
striplings must rule and govern Christ's Church, as 
master workmen ; as though they could finish such 
a temple. People are to depend on their credibility. 
These things are so ; I know what I say ; I am able 
when called upon to answer it. I am a friend to 
Christ ; to his Church, but not to prelatick govern- 
ment. If you" will carefully read the Bishop's ad- 
dress to me and others of the preachers who oppose 
the late proceedings, there you will find the heresy 
reflections — and the very manner of the new consti- 
tution ; but, unless you look over and over it, 'tis 
hard to understand. My dear brother, farewell; re- 
ject me, all of you, and let me feel the sneers, the 



IN VIRGINIA. 325 

frowns of strangers. My days are few among you ; 
when the members reject me I drop my Jonrneyings. 
**I am, &c., 

<* James O'Kelly." 

The second letter is addressed to Colonel Williams, 
probably a leading Methodist, but we have no clue to 
his locality. 

**No doubt you have heard I had resigned my 
place in Conference. I protest against a consolidated 
government, or any one Lord, or Arch-Bishop, claim- 
ing apostolic authority, declaring to have the Keys. 
Thus our ministry have raised a throne for Bishops, 
which being a human invention, a deviation from 
Christ and dear Mr. Wesley, I cordially refuse to 
touch. Liberty is contending for at the point of the 
sword in divers ways, monarchy, tyranny tumbling 
both in Church and Kingdoms, while our preachers 
are for erecting a throne for gentlemen Bishops 
in a future day, when fixed with an independent 
fortune they may sit and lord it over God's heri- 
tage. I speak in the fear of God, and feel for 
the dear people. District Conferences are nugatory, 
having given up their suffrages. Our preachers, so 
powerfully influenced by a few wise men, part located, 
have voted away their own liberty ; no appeal for an 
injured man. The preacher sent hath sole power to 
receive or reject whom he will ; if a sinner is by him 
admitted to the Sacrament, members are subject to 
commune with him and accounted accursed if they 
depart. What I say, I am able to make appear in 
the spirit of meekness with fear. I am still a true 
27* 



326 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

man, and know what I say. If I would hold my 
peace, and stay at borne, I might have during life 
£40 per annum. Would I do as some others wish, I 
might have peace and cash. I can do nothing against 
the truth ; nor can I turn my mind as a man can his 
coat. I'de rather suffer with my own people. 

'* James O'Ejelly.'* 

These letters reveal a morbid condition of mind in 
which O'Kelly seemed to see nothing but Asbury 
climbing over the ruins of a prostrate Church to the 
seat of an Arch-bishop. We can only look back 
with feelings of pity on a man who could thus wan- 
tonly assail Francis Asbury, whose course as a Chris- 
tian Bishop affords not the slightest ground for such 
charges or suspicions. The first letter was addressed 
to the Rev. Jesse ISTicholson, at that time a local 
preacher, residing in Portsmouth. 

O'Kelly sought to impress his views on the Metho- 
dists in that place and in the adjacent country, but 
he was firmly opposed by Mcholson, Leroy Cole and 
McKendree, the latter having become fully satisfied 
that the accusations against Asbury were utterly 
groundless. They met him in public discussion, and 
saved the Church in Portsmouth from a violent rup- 
ture. In the section where he had so long labored 
he was more successful in his bad work. Some So- 
cieties were entirely led away by his specious plans ; 
a few travelling, and a large number of local preach- 
ers followed him, and the O'Kelly an Schism became 
a fact in the history of Methodism. 

At the Conference of 1793, the names of James 



IN VIRGINIA. 327 

O'Kelly, Eice Haggard, John Allen and John Rob- 
erteon were entered as formally withdrawn from the 
Connection. O'Kelly and Haggard, assisted by dis- 
affected local preachers, at once began the work of 
organizing a new and pure Church, free from all such 
evils as they fancied had corrupted Methodism. 

Allen settled, and soon after, entering upon the 
practice of medicine, gave up preaching altogether. 
Robertson remained local, and after some years be- 
came the head of a subordinate schism in the O'Xel- 
lyan ranks. 

^' The Republican Methodists," was the title chosen 
for the new Church. 

The leaders proceeded to hold Conferences and 
other meetings for the purpose of deciding upon some 
settled plan of operations. They formed many rules, 
but upon trial found them extremely defective when 
compared with those they had abandoned. At length 
they renounced all rules of Church government, and 
took the I^ew Testament as their guide. They agreed 
that all the plans and regulations made at their Con- 
ferences should be merely advisory. The name for 
their Church was suggested by the political complex- 
ion of the times. Republican principles prevailed in 
Virginia, and there was something to be gained by a 
Church bearing the imposing and popular name, "Re- 
publican Methodists." . 

One of their first measures was to enact a leveling 
law. All preachers were to stand on equal footing. 
There were to be no grades in the ministry. They 
endeavored to swell their numbers by promising the 
laity much larger liberty than they enjoyed in the 



328 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

old Church. The leaders worked zealously, and not 
without success. In some places they carried ofl' en- 
tire Societies, in others they wrought ruinous divi- 
sions. A few preaching houses were seized by them, 
and the rightful owners turned out of doors ; from 
others the Methodists retired in order to avoid strife. 
Emboldened by these successes they began to abuse, 
to ridicule, and to say all manner of evil against the 
Methodist Church. They earnestly strove to turn the 
hearts of the members against the preachers. As- 
bury was the object of their peculiar displeasure. 
They took special pains to distort his character in 
every possible way before the public. The name of 
Bishop they professed to regard with holy horror. 
They confessed that Bishop and Elder had the same 
signification in Scripture ; yet they received the one 
and rejected the other. 

The spirit of division prevailed chiefly in the South- 
ern counties of the State, and in the border counties 
of Korth Carolina. In all this region the influence 
of O'Kelly was very great, and he scrupled not to use 
it to the utmost of his ability in building up his own 
cause. And although his success in gaining prose- 
lytes from the ranks of Methodism was far less than 
he anticipated, yet the history of this painful schism 
is full of sad memorials, families were rent asunder ; 
brother was opposed to brother, parents and children 
were arrayed against each other ; warm friends be- 
came open enemies ; the claims of Christian love 
were forgotten in the hot disputes about Church gov- 
ernment. The means of grace were neglected ; piety 
declined ; religion was wounded in the house of her 



IN VIRGINIA. 329 

friends, and the enemies of Christ exulted over many 
■who had fallen away from the faith. 

**It was enough," says Jesse Lee, *' to make the 
saints of God weep between the porch and the altar, 
and that both day and night, to see how the Lord's 
flock was carried away captive by that division." 

In the meanwhile 'Kelly labored diligently to 
BOW broadcast the seeds of strife and disunion. By 
private letters and public harangues he strove to ex- 
cite the public against Asbury and the old form of 
Church government. 

Kot long after his withdrawal from the Church he 
issued a pamphlet in which he gave his reasons for 
protesting against the ** Methodist Episcopal Govern- 
ment. 

This production was chiefly remarkable for its per- 
version of the plainest historical facts of Methodism, 
its misrepresentation of our economy, and its un- 
bounded abuse of Asbury. His strictures on the 
government of the Church, as well as his defamation 
of Asbury, demanded a reply. Asbury himself col- 
lected ample materials for this puqDOse, and submitted 
them to the Conferences for their action. The papers 
were accepted, and a committee appointed to prepare 
them for publication. Nicholas Snethen, in behalf 
of the committee, published a work in which he "not 
only vindicated Methodism, but placed the pretended 
facts and groundless assertions of O'Kelly in a posi- 
tion so variant from truth, as to leave the character 
of their author in more need of an apology than was 
the mere fact of his ceasing to be a Methodist." 

O'Xelly came forward in another small pamphlet, 



830 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

entitled, ** A Vindication of an Apology ;" this was 
promptly met by Snethen in ** An Answer to James 
O'Kelly's Yindication of his Apology." 

The readiness with which O'Kelly's charges were 
met, and the ability with which they were refuted, 
gave a decided check to his revolutionary measures. 
He proceeded, however, with the formal organization 
of the ^ ' Republican Methodist Church. " He scrupled 
not to ordain such preachers as consented to receive 
ordination at his hands, although he denounced 
Methodist ordination, in the line of which he stood, 
as a "spurious Episcopacy." The success of the 
Separatists in making proselytes, was far beneath 
their expectations. By a careful comparison of the 
returns from the large circuits in O'Kelly's old 
district, and where he wielded the greatest influence, 
we find that from 1792 to 1705, when the schism was 
at its height, the largest decrease in any one circuit 
was only a little over two hundred; while in two 
circuits, lying in the very field of strife, there was 
a gain of nearly four hundred. It is true that the 
returns from all the Virginia circuits in 1794 show a 
decrease of 2,000 members, but there were pro- 
bably other causes for this besides the O'Kellyan 
movement. 

In 1801, O'Kelly changed the name of his party. 
Renouncing their original title, he issued a pamphlet 
in which he announced himself and his adherents as 
"The Christian Church." Some of his societies 
readily assumed the high sounding name, others hesi- 
tated, a few protested, and divisions speedily followed. 
The more modest aniong them shrunk from an ap- 



IN VIRGINIA. 331 

pellation that declared all men heretics except them- 
selves. Divisions and subdivisions became the order 
of the day. One party clung to O'Kelly as **The 
Christian Church ;" another followed John Robert- 
son as Republican Methodists ; and yet another, under 
the lead of William Guirey and others, set up for 
themselves under the title of " The Independent 
Christian Baptist Church." These different parties 
continued to maintain a sickly existence for some 
years, but their num ers and influence gradually 
diminished. As early as 1810, Jesse Lee wrote : 
'* There are now but few of them in that part of 
Virginia where they were formerly the most nume- 
rous, and in most places they are declining." The 
decline continued until there could be found no or- 
ganization worthy to be called a church, but only 
fragments of societies scattered over the country, 
almost equally powerless against the Church they had 
left, and against the wickedness by which they were 
surrounded. 

It is not difficult to discover the causes that pro- 
duced the failure of O'Kelly's plans. The most 
potent was the heresy which his system contained. 
This was the taint that corrupted the whole scheme. 
His Unitarian errors allowed no Saviour to be offered 
to the people ; and destitute of this vital and central 
force, his church was soulless, and its name a false- 
hood. But the motives of the leaders seem to have 
been devoid of purity as their system was of saving 
truth. *'If the real cause of this division was 
known," says Asbury, ** I think it would appear that 
one wanted to be immovably fixed in a District , 



332 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

another wanted money ; a third wanted ordination ; 
a fourth wanted Hberty to do as he pleased about 
slaves and not to be called to an account." 

The, fierceness of their attacks on Asbury contri- 
buted to their ruin. Their swords raised to strike 
him down, pierced their own hearts, and their violent 
dealings came down on their own heads. Their wrath 
against him knew no bounds. 

In one of their ephemeral pamphlets he was called 
the ** Baltimore Bull, ' and a rude picture of a bull's 
head graced the title-page. They proclaimed him an 
enemy to the country, and charged him with laying 
up money to carry with him to England. Speaking 
of the opposition of O'Kelly in comparison with that of 
others, he says: ** Hammet was moderate, Glenden- 
ning not very severe ; but James hath turned the 
butt-end of his whip, and is unanswerably abusive.'* 
Preaching at a certain place in Prince Edward 
county, he '* was led to say a few things for himself, 
as to his coming to and staying in America — of the ex- 
ercise of that power which was given by the first and 
confirmed by the last General Conference." Great 
pains had been taken to misrepresent and injure him 
in that section, but after his address ** many of the 
people thought him not the monster he had been rep- 
resented." 

Such injustice could not fail to have a speedy and 
powerful reaction ; and as the light shone more bril- 
liantly on the path of Asbury, the darkness grew 
deeper on that of his tradacers. Many who had been 
drawn oiF in a moment of excitement, after calming 



IN VIRGINIA. 3SS 

down, and reexamining the points in controversy, 
returned to the Church. 

Although Ashury spared no pains to expose O'Kelly's 
errors, and to thwart his plans, yet he kept his heart 
right towards him, and, when occasion served, treated ^. 
him with Christian courtesy. Their first and last 
meeting, after the rupture, took place at Winchester. 
Hearing that his former friend was lying ill, Ashury 
sent two brethren to say that he would wait on him 
if he desired it. They *^met in peace, asked of 
each other's welfare, talked of persons and things 
indifferently, prayed, and parted in peace. Fot a 
word was said of the troubles of former times." 
This, as far as we know, was their last interview on 
earth. 

O'Kelly lived to an extreme old age, the sad spec- 
tator of the failure of his cherished schemes. He 
saw the man whom he had sought to ruin, descend 
to his grave in peace and full of honors, mourned by 
grateful thousands as the father of American Meth- 
odism. He saw his place filled and his principles 
defended by another, whom he had fondly marked 
for a leader in his own ranks. He saw hundreds of 
his own followers forsaking him, and rallying again 
to the standard of Methodism. He saw those who 
remained, scattered and broken into contending fac- 
tions. All this he lived to witness, and in the face 
of all, the stern old man clung to his cause with a 
heroism worthy of a better fate, and with faltering 
voice and failing strength, proclaimed his confidence 
in its ultimate success. Hope did not desert him 
even *Mn age and feebleness extreme." We are as- 
28 . 



834 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

8ured by one of his followers that lie *^ went down 
to the grave satisfied with the past, and peaceful and 
trusting with respect to the future." His stormy and 
eventful life closed on the 16th of October, 1826, in 
the ninety-second year of his age. 

For the year 1793, three CoDferences were held in 
Virginia. The first opened at Alexandria a few days 
after the close of the General Conference; it wa& un- 
important. *' We had a close sitting in Conference, 
and completed our work in one day." Such is the 
brief record in Asbury's journal. The second began 
at Manchester on the 26th of November, 1792, 
Here there was much unpleasant feeling in reference 
to the recent action of the General Conference. As 
already noticed, two of the preachers resigned their 
places ; they wer^ both, however, entered in the 
Minutes as holding regular appointments. Asbury 
was pained, but not discouraged by these oceurrences. 
He says : '*! think our sifting and shaking' will be for 
good. I expect a glorious revival will take place in 
America, and thousands be brought to God." The 
third Conference met in Greenbrier county on the 
25th of May, 1793. A few items of what was done 
here have been preserved by Stith Mead. 

The first day was mainly occupied in hearing the 
experiences of the preachers, and in receiving reports 
of their labors on the different circuits. The next 
day, Sunday, Asbury and Bruce preached ably and 
powerfully ; they were followed by Kobler and Mead 
in exhortation, *' after which several went to prayer; 
the windows of heaven appeared to be opened ; we 



IN TIRGINIA. 335 

had a great time, some were converted, and there 
was a great shout among the Christians." 

On Monday the Conference was closely engaged 
examining the ** Canons of our Church." This work 
over, the preachers received their appointments, and 
with glad hearts departed to their rough mountain 
circuits. At this Conference John Kobler was or- 
dained Elder, aiid Edward Mitchell, a local preacher, 
D-eacon, Kobler was one of the purest and most 
zealous of that noble band that planted Methodism 
in the wild regions of the West He survived nearly 
all his contemporaries, and closed his useful life in 
great peace in the town of Fredericksburg, not many 
years since. He is said to have preached the first 
Methodist sermon on the ground now covered by the 
city of Cincinnatti. At that time a small fort and a 
few soldiers' huts were the only marks of civilization. 
Forty years afterward he found a beautiful city, 
covering the banks of the Ohio, and the grey-haired 
patriarch delivered his message to a multitude of 
eager hearers in an elegant Christian temple. 

Father Kobler's account of his labors and travels 
in the West were highly entertaining. He often 
travelled his circuit with his trasty rifle, ready for the 
prowling savages that lurked along tlie mountain 
passes. Indeed, it was a common thing for many ol 
our frontier preachers to make their guns as indispen- 
sable as their Bibles and Hymn Books. Sometimes, 
for greater security, they travelled in parties of three 
or four, and often, when they reached a friendly rest- 
ing place, so excessive was their fatigue that they 
would fall asleep at the supper table. More than 



336 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

once Father Kobler had to arouse the brother at his 
side to receive a cup of tea. The wearied man had 
fallen asleep before the good woman could prepare it. 
Edward Mitchell merits our notice as a laborious 
and successful local preacher. He, and his brother 
Samuel, also a local preacher, contributed greatly to 
the establishment of Methodism in Botetourt and the 
adjacent counties. They formed several new circuits 
and organized a large number of classes. In every- 
thing but the name they were true itinerants. Ed- 
ward Mitchell was born in Hanover county. At an 
early age he entered the Kevolutionary army, in the 
same company with Patrick Henry. He served the 
cause of freedom with great fidelity, and was present 
at the bloody battle of Guilford. After the war he 
married and settled in Botetourt, where he embraced 
religion under the ministry of Henry Ogburn. As a 
Christian he was a burning and shiuing light, exhib- 
iting constant, elevated, and warm-hearted piety. 
His labors as a preacher were acceptable and useful ; 
he was an earnest co-laborer with the travelling preach- 
ers in all their plans. He was one of the first and 
most decided temperance men in the State. It is 
believed that he was the first to take a firm stand in 
favor of total abstinence. He banished whiskey 
wholly from his harvest field, a thing unheard of in 
those days, and gave the hands its value in money. 
His example had a happy influence on his neighbors ; 
drunkenness decreased and temperance began to be 
regarded as a virtue. We are informed by those 
who knew him best, that "there was a beautiful 
consistency running through his whole life and char- 



IN VIRGINIA. 337 

acter. In every relation he was all that his friends 
could wish or expect ia this frail and imperfect state 
(rf being." 

^ Many years ago he removed to the State of Illinois, 
and there, full of days, he fell like a shock of corn 
fully ripe. ** He retained his faculties to the last, 
and sunk to the peaceful slumbers of the grave, leav- 
ing to his posterity the priceless legacy of a holy 
life." Many of the descendants of this good man in 
Virginia, and in the West, are enrolled as members 
of the Methodist Church. 

-ii The numbers reported this year from Virginia 
were 13,508 white, and 4,097 colored members. 
There had been a loss of nearly 600 whites, and 
a gain of a little more than 100 blacks. From the 
entire Connection, however, the returns showed an 
increase of 1,451. 

Notwithstanding the unfortauate divisions from 
which the Church suffered in the eastern part of the 
State, in the west the work was greatly extended. 
In many places where Methodism was a new thing, 
there were extraordinary manifestations of the Spirit. 
The opposition of the world was aroused, and oppro- 
brious epithets applied to Methodism, and its sup- 
porters. It was declared to be the '^work of the 
Devil, the Black Art, Witchcraft, Hypocrisy," &c. 
Persons who had heard of the Methodist meetings 
came to them from a great distance, and when many 
lay around, slain by the sword of the Spirit, would 
pass about through the congregation feeling the pulse 
of those who lay as dead. Not unfrequently these 
curious philosophers were suddenly smitten with con- 
28* 



338 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

viction, and fell to the floor, crying aloud for mercy. 
The civil power, in once instance at least, was 
invoked to arrest the progress of the work. In 
Greenhrier county a Preshyterian gentleman called 
the attention of the Court to the Methodist preachere 
on the circuit, and assured them if they could only 
behold the misery inflicted on the people by these 
men at their public meetings, they would order their 
expulsion from the county. As the preachers were 
not driven ofl* we may conclude that the Court wisely 
declined any action in the case. 

The principal Conference in Virginia for 1794, as- 
sembled at Petersburg, November 25, 1793.* Two 
others of little importance were held west of the Blue 
Ridge in the spring of 1794 ; one at Edward Mitch- 
ell's in Botetourt, the other at or near "Winchester. 
Forty-five preachers attended the Petersburg Confer- 
ence. There was great unity and the power of God 
was felt in the meeting. A delegation was present 
from a number of disaflected members who had held 
a meeting at Pine Grove in Amelia circuit. 

One of the delegates appeared to be satisfied and 
was ordained, the other two received a long and 
earnest ** talk" from the Conference. This **long 
talk" probably resulted in nothing ; the disaflected 
preachers and members continued their evil work to 
the injury of many souls. 

* It must be remembered that while the series of Conferences 
for a given year opened in the fall of the preceding year, the re- 
turns and general results are not given until the close of the entire 
series. Thus, the Conferences for 1794 open in the Spring of 1793 
and close in the fall of 1794 after which the General Minutes were 
made up. 



IN VIRGINIA. 339 

The membership was reported at 13,600 white, and 
4,069 colored members ; the increase was only 100 
whites, but this was greatly encouraging in the midst 
of the divisions created by O'Kelly and bis party. 
Two new circuits, Leesburg and PendletoD, were ad- 
ded in Virginia. Two native Virginia preachers died 
this year, Henry Birchett and John "Wynn. Birchett 
was born in Brunswick and had been in the ministry 
six years. The Minutes speak of him as "a gracious, 
happy, useful man, who had freely ofiered himself 
for four years" on the dangerous stations of Kentucky 
and Camberland. ^Notwithstanding the pain in his 
breast and spitting of blood, the danger of the In- 
dians, and prevalence of the small-pox, he went, a 
willing martyr. He was one among the worthies 
who freely left safety, ease and prosperity, to seek 
after and suffer faithfully for souls. His meekness, 
love, labors, prayers, tears, sermons and exhortations 
will not soon be forgotten. He wanted no appeal 
from labor, danger or suffering." The language of 
his heart and life was 

"No cross, no suffering I decline, 
Only let all my heart be thine." 

John Wynn was a native of Sussex county. He 
was young but gifted — -^a man of address and natu- 
ral elocution, of an upright heart, a son of affliction, 
willing to labor to the last." He died in great peace 
at the early age of twenty-seven. 

In view of the evils that filled the land, the general 
sickness thatprevailed, andthelow state of religion in 
the Churches, the Conference at Petersburg issued an 
address appointing a day of fasting, humiliation and 
prayer. 



340 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Of this address we are fortunately able to give an 
authentic copy. 

**The brethren in the Ministry of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, seated in Conference at Petersburg, 
ISTovember 25, 1793, having in their most serious con- 
sideration the present aspect of the Christian Church, 
and deploring the formality, worldly-mindedness and 
awful want of union that appear in it ; the unanima- 
ted state of our most solemn assemblies, and that very 
few in some parts, have possessed of late the awaken- 
ing, converting, and sanctifying grace of God ; the 
neglect of justice and truth in the land and the most 
horrid sins that prevail as a reproach to the Christian 
name ; the state of the seasons of the year ; the late 
dreadful contagion in the city of Philadelphia ; the 
general sickness that hath been spreading from ITorth 
to South, and from East to West ; the Indian depre- 
dations, and apparent disaffection to the States, to- 
gether with the European commotions. That these 
may not be suffered to disturb the peace and good 
government of America, do most heartily solicit our 
Societies, and congregations, and recommend the 
fourth Friday in January, 1794, as a day of fasting, 
humiliation and prayer to Almighty God through 
Christ, to hear and keep his Church and this land. 
We desire the day may be wholly devoted to God in 
a Sabbath strictness ; hoping, as some thousands of 
our brethren in the Korth have been united in this 
exercise, so thousands Southward and Westward will 
unite with us to keep such a day as hath not been 
kept heretofore." 

F. ASBURY 



IN VIRGINIA. 341 

This was a year of serious trouble and distress to 
the Methodists in Virginia, and other Southern States. 
Besides the painful divisions and heartburnings that 
followed the movements of O'Kelly and his party, 
there appeared the buddings of discontent on several 
vital questions. Many of the malcontents openly de- 
clared that local preachers ought to have the right to 
sit and vote in all the Conferences ; others insisted 
that there ought to be a delegation of lay members. 

The response to the disaffected parties is thus given 
by Jesse Lee : ** We supposed that where there was 
taxation there ought to be representation ; but we did 
not tax any one. We only regulated our own busi- 
ness and fixed on certain plans for governing the 
Church, and for taking care of those persons who 
had put themselves under our care, and were still 
willing to be governed by us." 

The effect of these warm contentions was a decline 
in piety and numbers in many of our older circuits. 
Asbury was charged with being the author of nearly 
all the evils which afflicted the Church. **I 
preached," he writes, ** (though not of choice) at 

Charlotte Court House ; here Mr. met me, aud 

charged me with saying at * that they would 

take oft* my head.' I told him I did not remember 
to have said so, but if I did, I must certainly have 
meant the Episcopacy of our Church ; he answered, 
in that I was very right, he strove to do it with all his 
might ; yet he talked of union, and hoped I would 
do my part. At what ? Why, to destroy ; First, the 
Episcopacy, and then the Conference — or at least its 
power and authority." Speaking in another place of 



342 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

the bitter opposition evinced toward him in another 
circuit, he says : ^* Let them curse, but God will 
bless and his faithful preachers will love and pity 
me." 

The Virginia Conference for 1795 was appointed 
for Petersburg, but owing to the prevalence of small 
pox in the town it was removed to Mrs. Mabry's in 
Greensville county, where the session was opened 
November 27, 1794. 

According to Stith Mead, who was present, there 
were seventy-five preachers in attendance. They met 
for business at 9 o'clock in the morning, and ad- 
journed at four in the afternoon. On the first day 
*^five young preachers were strictly examined and 
received on trial." The second day was spent in 
** examining the characters of the preachers, and hear- 
ing their experiences ;" on the thn'd day (Saturday) 
the same exercises were continued. " On Sunday," 
says Mead, *^ about forty of us coupled ourselves in 
order and rode to the meeting house, where we heard 
thirteen preachers who were to be ordained to the 
eldership, and four others to the deaconship, exam- 
ined on doctrine." Asbury then preached ** a great 
and profitable discourse " on Zephaniah ii : 6. Reu- 
ben Ellis followed with " a profitable discourse " from 
2 Cor. ix: 12. The candidates were then ordained 
in the presence of the congregation. On Monday the 
Conference touched the vexed question of slavery. 
** We this day," says Mead, ^^ adopted a restricting 
clause in our by-rules, that no itinerant preacher in 
our Conference should involve himself in the oppres- 
sive Bane of negro slavery, where it was possible to 



IN VIRGINIA. 343 

free them, at the risk of forfeiting his honor and 
itinerancy among us ; to which about seventy itine- 
rant preachers subscribed their names." This was a 
voluntary agreement and only bound those who signed 
it. Asbury is to the same effect but more explicit : 
" The preachers almost unanimously entered into 
an agreement and resolution not to hold slaves in any 
State where the law will allow them to manumit 
them, on pain of forfeiture of their honor and their 
place in the itinerant connexion ; and in any State 
where the law will not admit of manumission, they 
agreed to pay them the worth of their labor, and 
when they die to leave them to some person or per- 
sons, or the Society, in trust, to bring about their 
liberty." 

This was a mere agreement entered into by a num- 
ber of preachers, and cannot be regarded as a Con- 
ference action in any strict sense. It was one of 
those periodical assaults against slavery by which the 
Church lost much more than she gained. 

Asbury gives us a view of the finances at this Con- 
ference: ** After raising and applying what money 
we could, (which was about £50,) we calculated that 
one-fourth of the preachers at this Conference had 
received for their salary the past year about <£10 ; one- 
half, from about £12 to £15 ; and one-fourth, their 
full quarterage, (sixty-four dollars)." 

The Conference was a peaceful and happy one. 
**I was agreeably disappointed," says Mead, **in 
my expectations ; from the late schism I feared we 
should have a disagreeable Conference, but the God 
of love overruled and turned the discordant minds of 



344 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the disajQPected ; all that were shaken acknowledged 
their errors with tears, and the Lord was visibly 
present." 

The returns made for 1795 showed a membership 
in Virginia of 11,235 whites, and 2,764 blacks. The 
decrease from the previous year was 3,670. The 
Church began to feel the effects of the divisions caused 
by the incessant efforts of O'Kelly and his followers. 

The Conference for 1796 assembled at Salem 
Chapel, Mecklenburg county, on the 24th of Novem- 
ber, 1795. Fifty members and sixteen probationers 
were present. Ten Elders and nine Beacons were or- 
dained. "We had close work," saysAsbury, **and 
great harmony in sentiment. " The Conference had 
a happy influence on the Societies in that section 
of the work. " For five years they had been kept 
out of tune by unhappy divisions/^ but from this 
time they began to regain their *' proper tone," and 
to move forward in the path of usefulness. The 
Society at Salem was one of the first gathered by the 
pioneer preachers. The families with whom Asbury 
delighted to rest and refresh himself, in his weari- 
some travels, still have their honored representatives 
in the Church. At *'Ogburn's" he was always glad 
to meet the ** gracious old people," and with them 
he used to have ** melting seasons." ** Holmes'" 
he calls an ** ancient stand," and not far off was 
Salem, "the best house we have in the country part 
of Virginia." The old ^* Salem Chapel" has not 
been materially changed since the days of Asbury ; 
at least, within the memory of the author, the house 
stood as it did when the Conferences used to assem- 



IN VIRGINIA. 345 

ble there. And not a few of the present generation 
of preachers have stood m the same pulpit, perched 
aloft on the side of the house, from which Asbury, 
Bruce, the Ellis's, and other fathers of the Church 
preached the word of life. 

For the first time, the members were this year 
taken by States. Virginia reported 11,321 white, 
and 2,458 colored members. There was a small in- 
crease of whites, but a loss of 300 among the blacks. 

The Virginia Conference was called to mourn the 
loss of three able and zealous preachers. 

Reuben Ellis, after twenty year's hard service in 
the work, fell at the post of duty and passed to his 
reward. One of the earliest of ' * Asbury's Ironsides," 
he had carried the gospel into Pennsylvania, Mary- 
land, Virginia, Il^orth and South Carolina, and 
Georgia. lie was *'a man of slow, but very sure 
and solid parts, both as a counsellor and guide ;" as 
a preacher he was ** weighty and powerful;" his 
character was marked by * ' simplicity and godly sin- 
cerity." He sought not the things of this world. 
**IIis horse, his clothing, and immediate necessaries, 
were all he appeared to want of the world." He was 
a true hero, ever ready to fill any appointment, 
although in doing so he might have to pass ** through 
the fire of temptation, and the waters of afiliction." 
^)v,^uddenly the path of this good man opened into 
everlasting rest. The verdict of his brethren was, 
that he left none behind him ^*in all the Connection 
higher, if equal in standing, piety and usefulness." 

Richard Ivy had served the Church as an itinerant 
for eighteen years. He was a co-laborer with Ellis, 
29 



346 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and like him had preached Christ ia almost every 
part of the work. ** He sought not himself," says 
the Miimtes, " any more than did a Pedicord, a Gill, 
or a Tiinnell ; men who never thought of growing 
rich by the gospel ; their great concern was to be 
rich in grace and useful to souls." He was **aman 
of quick and solid parts;" powerful and animated 
in the pulpit, and bold as a lion in the cause of his 
Master. An incident recorded of him will illustrate 
his fearlessness as a preacher of righteousness. Dur- 
ing the Revolutionary war he travelled a circuit in 
I^ew Jersey, in which lived a number of influential 
Methodists who were supposed to be unfriendly to 
the American cause. As a matter of course, tbeir 
preachers also fell under suspicion. A company of 
soldiers, quartered near one of the appointments, 
determined to arrest the first preacher that carae, and 
carry him to headquarters. Ivy, then a young 
man, was the first to reach the place. Rumors of 
what was to occur brought out a large congregation. 
Soon after the people were convened, a file of sol- 
diers marched into the yard, and halted near the 
door. Two officers theli entered the house, drew 
their swords, crossed them on the table in front of the 
preacher, and seated themselves, one on each side of 
it, so as to look him full in the face. The preacher 
rose and calmly announced his text: **Fear not, 
little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to 
give you the Kingdom." 

After a lucid exposition, he began to enforce the 
exhortation, ''Fear not." ''Christians," he said, 
''sometimes fear when there is no cause for fear." 



IN VIRGrNIA. 847 

So he supposed it was with some then present. Those 
men who were engaged in the defence of their coun- 
try meant them no harm. He then spoke in ani- 
mated strains in favor of the cause of freedom, glanc- 
ing now at the crossed swords on the table, and then 
at the officers, as if he would say, This looks like 
domestic oppression ; and then, as he closed his ser- 
mon, he bowed to the officers, and opening his bosom 
at the same moment, exclaimed : " Sirs, I would fain 
show you my heart ; if it beats not high for ligiti- 
mate liberty, may it forever cease to beat." His 
words and manner thrilled the whole audience. The 
officers tried to frown, then to smile contemptuously. 
Catching inspiration from the scene, the preacher 
launched out again in more fervid strains ; the people 
sobbed aloud, and cried * ' Amen !" the officers hung 
their heads and trembled like the leaves of an aspen ; 
the soldiers at the doors and windows swung their 
hats, and shouted, ^ ' Huzza for the Methodist parson !'" 
Ivy was victorious. The officers on leaving shook 
hands with him, and wished him well. They after- 
ward said they would share their last shilling with 
such a man. 

A son of affliction. Ivy bore a feeble body through 
years of toil, and ^'lingered out his latter days, 
spending his all with his life in the work." He fell 
asleep in Jesus in his native county, Sussex, and in 
the midst of his friends. 

Stephen Davis, after seven years of faithful ser- 
vice, fell a victim to *' the pestilential fever" at Nor- 
folk. He was of an old and honored Methodist 
family, whose descendants still abide in the member- 



348 MEMORIALS OF MEtHODtSM 

ship and ministry of the church. His mother's house 
in Gloucester county was the first opened to the 
Methodist preachers ; here they found a home and 
formed a Society, **from which there was a gracious 
spread of the gospel throughout the county." God 
honored the house by putting one of the sons into 
the ministry. Stephen Davis was a man of deep and 
fervent piety, a '^ very able and intelligent preacher." 
His memory was so extraordinary as to be noticed in 
his brief obituary record in the Minutes. He was 
diligent in business, and like Paul, often wrought 
with his own hands, that he might not be chargeable 
to the Church. In the beginning of the O'Kellyan 
excitement he was persuaded to take sides against 
the Church, but he was soon convinced of his error, 
and stood forth as a " faithful and successful defen- 
der of the order and government " of Methodism. 
His knowledge of O'Kelly and his schemes enabled 
him to expose his schism in all its plans and purposes, 
as well as the false assumptions on which it rested ; 
this he did fearlessly, sometimes meeting the leader 
face to face, refuting his arguments, and boldly de- 
nouncing him as a disturber of the peace of the 
Church. Many wavering souls w^ere saved to Meth- 
odism by his watchfulness and energy. 

He stood bravely at his post in Norfolk when the 
fever broke out, and fell as a Christian soldier iu 
good hope of eternal life. He left his property to 
be divided among his brethren of the Virginia 
Conference. 

Asbury passed on to the South from the Virginia 
Conference, and in the Spring returned on his usual 



: IN VIRGINIA. 349 

route through the wild region lying along the French 
Broad and Holston Rivers. Having reached Eussell 
county, he writes of the hardy settlers who had suf- 
fered greatly from the depredations of the Indians. 
*' They have lived in peace ever since the death of 
Ben, the half-hlood Indian warrior, who was shot 
through the head while carrying off two women. 
He was a dreadfully wicked wretch, and had been the 
agent of death to nearly one hundred people in the 
wUderness and on Russell." 

t-- While in this region he attended the funeral ser- 
vices of Mrs. F. Dickenson, the thrilling narrative of 
whose capture by the Indians he relates. It is a 
graphic picture of the trials of the early settlers in 
Western Virginia : 

*^She was married to a Mr. Scott, and lived in 
Powell's Valley ; at which time the Indians were 
very troublesome, often killing and plundering the 
inhabitants. On a certain evening her husband and 
children being in bed, eight or nine Indians rushed 
into the house ; her husband being alarmed, started up 
when all that had guns fired at him. Although he was 
badly wounded, he broke through them all, and got 
out of the house. Several of them closely pursued 
him, and put an end to his life. They then murdered 
and scalped all her children before her eyes, plun- 
dered the house, and took her prisoner. The re- 
mainder of the night they spent around a fire in the 
woods, drinking, shouting, and dancing. The next 
day they divided the plunder with great equality ; 
among the goods was one of Mr. Wesley's hymn- 
books, she asked them for it, and they gave it to her ; 
29* 



350 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

but when they saw her often reading therein they 
were d ispleased and took it from her, calling her a con 
jurer. After this they travelled several days' journej 
toward the Indian towns ; but, said she, my grief was 
so great I could hardly believe my situation was a 
reality, but thought I dreamed. To aggravate my 
grief, one of the Indians hung my husband's and my 
children's scalps to his back, and would walk next 
before me. In walking up and down the hills and 
mountains, I was worn out with fatigue and sorrow ; 
they would often laugh when they saw me almost 
spent, and mimic my panting for breath. There was 
one Indian more humane than the rest. lie would 
get me water, and make the other stop when I wanted 
to rest. Thus they carried me on eleven days' jour- 
ney, until they were greatly distressed with hunger. 
They then committed me to the care of an old Indian 
at the camp, while they went ofi' a hunting. 

*^ While the old man was busily employed in dress- 
ing a dear-skin, I walked backward and forward 
through the woods, until I observed he took no notice 
of me. I then slipped off and ran a considerable 
distance and came to a cane-break, where I hid my- 
self very securely. Through most of the night I 
heard the Indians searching for me, and answering 
each other with a voice like an owl. Thus was I left 
alone in the savage wilderness, far from any inhabi- 
tants, without a morsel of food, or any friend to help, 
but the common Saviour and friend of all. To him 
I poured out my complaint in fervent prayer that he 
would not forsake me in this distressing circumstance. 
I then set out the course that I thought Kentucky 



IN VIRGINIA. 351 

lay, thougli with very little expectation of seeing a 
human face again, except that of the savages, whom 
I looked upon as so many fiends from the bottomless 
pit ; and my greatest dread was that of meeting some 
of them while wandering in the wilderness. 

**One day, as I was travelling, I heard a loud 
human voice, and a prodigious noise, like horses 
running. I ran into a safe place and hid myself, and 
saw a company of Indians pass by, furiously driving 
a gang of horses which they had stolen. I had noth- 
ing to subsist upon but roots, young grape-vines, and 
sweet-cane, and such like produce of the woods. I ac- 
cidently came where a bear was eating a deer, and drew 
near in hopes of getting some ; but he growled and 
looked angry, so I left him, and quickly passed on. 
At night, when I lay down to rest, I never slept but 
I dreamed of eating. In my lonesome travels I 
came to a very large shelving rock, under which was 
a fine bed of leaves. I crept in among them, and 
I determined there to end my days of sorrow. I lay 
tliere several hours, until my bones ached in so dis- 
tressing a manner that I was obliged to stir out again. 
I then thought of and wished for home ; and trav- 
elled on several days, till I came where Cumberland 
River breaks through the mountains. 

"I went down the cliffs a considerable distance until 
I was affrighted, and made an attempt to go back, 
but found the place down which I had gone was so 
steep that I could not return. I then saw but one 
way that I could go, which was a considerable perpen- 
dicular distance down to the bank of the river. I 
took hold of the top of a little bush, and for half an 



352 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

hour prayed fervently to God for assistance. I then 
let myself down by the little bush until it broke, and 
I went with great violence down to the bottom. This 
was early in the morning, and I lay there a consider- 
able time with a determination to go no farther. 
About ten o'clock I grew so thirsty, that I concluded 
to crawl to the water and drink, after which I found 
I could walk. 

"The place I came through, as I have since been in- 
formed is only two miles, and I was four days in get- 
ting through it. I traveled on until I came to a little 
path, one end of which led to the inhabitants and the 
other to the wilderness. I knew ot which end 
of the path to take. After standing and praying 
to the Lord for direction, I turned to take the 
end that led to the wilderness. Immediately there 
came a little bird ot a dove-color near to my feet, and 
fluttered along the path that led to the inhabitants. 
I did not observe this much at first, until it did it a 
second or third time. I then understood this as a di- 
rection of Providence, and took the path w^hich led 
me to the inhabitants." 

^ ^ Immediately after her safe arrival she embraced 
rehglon, and lived and died an humble follower of 
Christ." 



m VIRGINIA. 353 



CHAPTER X. 

Districting the Conferences — Asbnry on his Southern tour — Fail- 
ure of health— He winters in Virginia — Employment of his 
time — Indoor life — Sermonizing — Great revival of 1797 — Con- 
ferences of 1798-'9 — John Dickins — Methodism in Richmond — 
Conference of 1800 — Statistics — Third General Conference — 
Measures adopted — Purpose of Asbury to resign his office — He is 
dissuaded from it — Election of Whatcoat to the Episcopacy — 
Progress of Methodism in Virginia — Rich fruits of ministerial 
toil. 

PREVIOUS to tlie year 1797 the Annual Con- 
ferences had no fixed limits, and were usually 
composed of the preachers of one or two districts. 
The General Conference, which assembled at Balti- 
more on the 20th of October, 1796, limited their 
number to six for the entire field of Methodism, and 
determined their boundaries. The reasons assigned 
for this action show the wisdom of our fathers: **For 
several years the Annual Conferences were very 
small, consisting only of the preachers of a single 
district, or of two or three very small ones. This 
was attended with many inconveniences. 

1. There were but few of the senior preachers 
whose years and experience had matured their judg- 
ments, who could be present at any one Conference. 

2. The Conferences wanted that dignity which 



354 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

every religious synod should possess, and which always 
accompanies a large assembly of gospel ministers. 

3. The itinerant plan was exceedingly cramped, from 
the difficulty of removing preachers from one district 
to another." 

All of these difficulties they hoped to obviate by 
enlarging the limits of the Annual Conferences. 
They also cherished the hope ^ ^ that the active, zealous 
unmarried preachers might move on a larger scale, 
and preach the ever blessed gospel far more exten- 
sively through the sixteen States, and other parts of 
the continent; while the married preachers, whose cir- 
cumstances require them in many instances, to be more 
located than the single men, will have a considerable 
field of action opened to them ; and also the Bishops 
will be able to attend the Conferences with greater 
ease, and without injury to their health. " 
/ Under this new arrangement, ^^ The Virginia Con- 
ference embraced ^^ all that part of Virginia which 
lies on the south side of the Eappahannock Eiver, 
and all that part of Korth Carolina which lies on the 
north side of Cape Fear River, including also the 
circuits which are situated on the branches of the 
Yadkin." 

In addition to that portion of the State here indi- 
cated, the Conference embraced all the circuits west 
of the Blue Ridge. The only part of Virginia dis- 
tinctly named as included in another Conference, was 
the ]!*forthern Keck, which was assigned to the Balti- 
more Conference. 

Two Conferences were held in Virginia within the 
limits of the Conference year 1797. 



IN YiRaiNiA; 355 

"It was thought best," says Jesse Lee, ''to take ia 
the Conference in Virginia which was held in 1796, 
and that also which wa held in this year (1797), and, 
by that means the Conferences would be changed 
about, so as to begin them in future in the South, 
and finish them in the Forth." 

The first Virginia Conference for the year was 
held at the house of * * Brother Batt, in Greensville 
county on the 15th of E'ovember, 1796. Asbury 
gives a very brief notice of this body and its doings. 
'* Our Conference began at Brother Batt's, a most 
convenient house and very kind people. We sat in 
great peace and good order. A few preachers de- 
clined travelliog. We elected and ordained six elders 
and nine deacons. The deficiencies of the preachers 
amounted to upwards of £194 Virginia currency." 
Dr. Coke was present at this Conference and divided 
the labors of the pulpit and the chair with Asbury. 

The second Conference was held at Lane's Chapel 
in Sussex county, ITovember 25th, 1797. Our only 
information as to what was done is from the meagre 
entry in Asbury's journal. ** Saturday, 25th Novem- 
ber. The Conference began their sitting at Lane's 
Chapel. About sixty preachers were present ; nine 
or ten had located ; and four or five were added. 

On Sabbath day two hours were spent m speaking 
of the circuits, and for souls. 

Wednesday, 29. At noon the Conference rose ; 
the business was conducted with dispatch and in much 
peace. I desired the advice of the Conference con- 
cerning my health ; the answer was, that I should 



S56 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

rest until tlie session of the Conference to be held in 
April in Yirglnia." 

The returns from the circuits showed a white mem- 
bership of 11,046, and a colored of 2,490. There 
had been a loss of nearly 300 white members, but a 
small increase among the blacks. 

From the Virginia Conference Asbury in pain and 
feebleness, began his Southern tour. His route was 
** fixed by Norfolk, Portsmouth, liTewbern, Kingston, 
Georgetown and Charleston — between five and six 
hundred miles in little more than a month ; sick or 
well, living or dead, my appointments go on." Of 
his bodily sufferings on this journey, he writes : ** I 
came twenty-five miles to Edward Dromgoole's ; once 
or twice I felt on my way thither as if the blood would 
rise in my mouth. I resolved to give up travelling 
this winter. Dr. Sims bled me ; and there appeared 
an inflammatory buff on the top. ! to rest — to be 
idle and dependent is painful ; but if this is to make 
me perfect, the will of the Lord be done ! I sent 
my papers to Brother Lee who proceeds to Charleston, 
ako my plan and directions how to station th preach- 
ers", to Brother Jackson. I believe that my going to 
Charleston this season would end my life ; yet could 
I be persuaded it was the will of God I would go and 
preach. I cannot bear the fatigue of riding thirty 
miles in a day. I am much pressed to make my 
will, lest I should be surprised by death ; my mind is 
greatly calmed and centred in God. I have well 
considered all the solemnities of death." 

Worn down by disease and almost daily threatened 
with death, Asbury was compelled to give up all hope 



IN VIRGINIA. 357 

of reaching the Southern Conference. He passed the 
entire winter among his old and cherished friends in 
Brunswick and the adjacent counties. His time was 
not misspent, though he was enabled to preach only 
an occasional sermon. He wrote letters to all parts 
of the connexion, read and revised his journals, and 
studied as much as his feeble condition would allow. 
That portion of his journal embracing this period 
is full of interest and instruction. It is a simple, 
life-like picture of a good man suffering cheerfully 
and laboring zealously for Christ. Speaking of his 
bodily afflictions, he says : ** The smallest exercise or 
application to study is too great for me. The doctor 
pronounces my complaint to be debility. I have 
taken cider with nails put into it, and fever powders, 
and must take more of the barks." The winter was 
a severe one, and in his debilitated state he suffered 
greatly with the cold. ^'I slept under two double- 
milled blankets, besides coverlids and sheets, but 
could not keep warm. It is cold enough for the 
North. Strange.life for me to sit and burn myself by 
the fire and be nursed. I feel a small return of 
health. I cannot preach now, only to the family and 
when a stranger cometh in." His " small return of 
health " was but transient. He writes soon after this 
entry: "It is exceedingly cold. The pain in my 
breast is returned ; I fear it is immovably fixed more 
or less until death. Lord, thy will be done ? Weari- 
some days are appointed for me." Again he writes : 
" I am now taking an extraordinary diet — drink made 
of one quart of hard cider, one hundred nails, a 
handful of black snake-root, one handful of fennel 
30 



358 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

seed, one handful of wormwood, boiled from a quart 
to a pint, taking one wine-glass fall every morning 
for nine or ten days, using no butter, or milk, or 
meat. I was better in my feelings than I have been 
since I have been taken ill ; but I must flee conversa- 
tion, grief and care, with deep and close thinking 
and composition." It would be strange to find even 
80 holy a man without some moments of depression 
in the course of a lingering illness. ^^When I get 
sick and dispirited, I think, was I not a bishop, and 
required by duty, and necessity and conscience, to do 
the best I can, I would rather go into some line of 
business to get my living, and not lounge about. I 
feel for those who have had to groan out a wretched 
life dependent on others — as Pedicord, Gill, Tunnell, 
and other whose names I do not now recollect ; but 
their names are written in the book of liie, and their 
souls are in the glory of God." 

He gives us this picture of his indoor life : ** It i8 
such cloudy weather I cannot go out ; I wind cotton, 
hear the children read, and teach them a little 
grammar. I have, by the help of a scribe, marked 
the States I have traveled through for these twenty 
years ; but the movements are so quick (travelling 
day and night) it seems that the notes upon two or 
three hundred miles are only like a parish and a day— 
on paper." 

A few days after he writes : ** I can only make a 
few weak observations. What little pen-work I dare 
do, has been in writing a letter to York. I shall 
only journalize a little, and never enter deeply into 
my other subjects. I scorn to be idle ; the past week 



IN YIRGINIA. 359 

hatli been spent in the cotton work with my fingers, 
and in hearing the children read and instructing them 
in English grammar." 

His religious meditations dming these weary 
months give a lively view of his method of sermon- 
izing. 

On one of his lonely Sabbaths he writes : 
**We sat melancholy in the house — dumb Sab- 
baths ! Dr. Sims read me Mr. Wesley's sermon upon 
the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the know- 
ledge of God. Monday, I was led to meditate upon 
the same subject : 'By whom shall Jacob rise?' 1. 
Jacob — ^the Chmxh. 2. Eise to spiritual glory. 8% 
By whom Jacob hath risen. 4. By whom the Church 
shall rise — it is a profitable character of the Church. 
Jacob — see that man loved by his mother, hated by 
his brethren after the flesh, guarded against unlawful 
marriages, yet had two wives, representing the Jew- 
ish and Gentile state of the Church. See his afflic- 
tions and persecutions ; the danger of being extinct 
in his family ; yet preserved ; his children ; his piety; 
his prayers. A type of Christ and bis Church. 
Jacob rise ! rise, increase in children, in faith, in love, 
mercy, in justice, in truth, in zeal, in ministerial 
gifts, in faithful watchmen. By whom hath the 
Church risen? By Abel, by Enoch, by IlToah, by 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ; by Moses and Aaron, 
Joshua and the elders that outlived Joshua ; by Joel, 
by Ruth, by Obadiah, servant of Ahab, by Micah, 
by Jo ash, by Jotham, Ilezekiah, and his grandson 
Josiah ; and all the prophets ; by the great wrestling 
Jacob ; by J^sus and his Apostles ; by faithful min- 



M& MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

isters in all ages, nations, and societies. We want 
knowledge to know, and time to mention their names. 
By whom shall Jacob rise? God will pour out his 
Spirit in the last days on ministers and people, old 
men and maidens, young men and children, minis- 
ters and members of his Church, magistrates and 
masters, parents and guardians. He is small; see 
all the little flock — the holy seed ; all the weaknesses, 
all the apostates and backsliders, all the want of jus- 
tice, mercy, truth, and true religion ; these shall be 
replaced with opposite characters and graces ; all the 
vacancies of ministers and virtues shall be filled up, 
and more abundantly supplied in spiritual and hea- 
venly glory, when all shall know the Lord, and be; 
taught of the Lord, and all be righteous, and the 
knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the 
water doth all the deep places of the earth and the 
seas. 

By whom shall Jacob rise ? I answer, by the wis- 
dom, power, mercy, truth, love and hoHness of God, 
displayed in a glorious gospel. I am sure Jacob 
shall rise by the merits, righteousness, and interces- 
sion of Jesus Christ. I answer again, by the opera- 
tions of the eternal Spirit of God, in his convincing, 
converting, and sanctifying influences, manifested by 
the calling and qualifying ministers for the work ; 
that thousands of ministers may go forth, and mil- 
lions of souls may be brought home by their instru- 
mentality." 

Again he writes : "My thoughts were led to medi- 
tate upon 1 Timothy iv : 16 : ' Take heed unto thy- 
self and unto the doctrine ; continue in them : for 



IN VIRGINIA. 361 

in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them 
that hear thee.' 

**T. *Take heed to thyself — in rehgion, as in 
nature, self-preservation is one of the first laws. ; 
Take heed that thy experience in religion and doctrine 
be sound ; that thou hast a good heart and a good 
head, and a good life, and a good conversation, min-f 
isterial diligence and fidelity in every part of Chris- 
tian and pastoral duty. Saved by grace, thou shalt be 
preserved from all the snares set for thy feet, and not 
backslide as a Christian minister, but feel persevering, 
sanctifying, glorifying and ciowning grace. 

**II. Thou shall *save them that hear thee,' from 
lukewarmness and backsliding ; legality on the one 
hand, and making void the law through faith on the 
other; that they profess and possess, live and walk as 
it becometh the gospel of Christ. 

**in. * Continue in them,' in all the doctrines, or- 
dinances and duties of the gospel ; the same gospel, 
the same ordinances, the same duties which are de- 
signed to complete the work in the souls of ministers 
as Christians, are as needful to continue the work of 
grace as to begin it ; and not only continue but to 
finish and bring on the head-stone with shouting." 

We give another specimen: ** I read in my Bible, 
and selected those texts which struck my mind, that 
if ever I should preach again I may use. Joseph 
said, I fear God ; E^ehemiah said, he could not oppress 
the people as other governors had done, because of 
the fear of God. 

Fear of God, in seekers, in believers, and in those 
who are sanctified ; and the motives to the fear God. 
30* 



862 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

FiTsty he is lioly ; Secondly, lie is wise ; Thirdly, he is 
just; i^owr^A^^, he is powerfal. If holy, he hath no 
SID, if wise, he kuoweth when we sin ; if he is just, 
he must punish sin ; and he hath power to punish it. 
A man may he wise hut not all- wise ; a man may he 
just but not infinite injustice; thus man may be holy, 
but not holy as God ; man may be wanting in wis- 
dom, in power, in holiness, and in justice. In some 
cases it may not be man's duty to punish, nor in his 
power — not so with Jehovah. \VTio will not fear him 
according to his attributes, and according to his word 
of threatened vengeance?" 

In reference to his journal he writes : ''\ have well 
considered my Journal ; it is inelegant, yet it conveys 
much information of the state of religion and country. 
It is well suited to common readers ; the wise need it 
not. I have a desire that my journals should be pub- 
lished, at least after my death, if not before. I make 
no doubt that others have labored; but in England, 
Scotland and Ireland, and those kingdoms which have 
been civilized and improved one thousand years, and 
which are under such improvements, no ministers 
could have suffered in those days, and in those coun- 
tries, as in America, the most ancient parts of which 
have not been settled over two hundred years, some 
parts not forty, others not thirty, twenty nor ten, and 
some not five years. I have frequently skimmed 
along the frontiers for four and five hundred miles, 
from Kentucky to Greenbrier, on the very edge ot 
the wilderness ; and thence along Tiger's Yalley to 
Clarksburg on the Ohio. These places, if not haunts 
of savage men, yet abound with wild beasts. I am 



- IN VIRGINIA. 363 

known only by name to many of our people, and 
some of our local preachers ; and unless the people 
were all together, they could not tell what I have had 
to cope with. I make no doubt the Methodists are, 
and will be a numerous and wealthy people, and their 
preachers who follow us will not know our struggles 
but by comparing the present improved state of the 
country with what it was in our days, as exhibited in 
my Journal and other records of that day." 

It was not until the Spring had fully opened, with 
its genial weather, that Asbury resumed his toils as a 
Methodist Bishop. He was scarcely able to ride more 
than ten or fifteen miles a day. In view of the long 
journey before him he writes : 

"I have entered upon a tour of two thousand miles 
before I may probably see this part of the land again. 
0, can I perform such toil? Weakness of body 
maketh me feel great heaviness of mind. I must 
think, speak, write and preach a little, or I may as 
well give up my station." 

The year 1797 was a season of most gracious visi- 
tation to the churches in Virginia. In Greensville, 
Cumberland, and Bedford, the work of the Lord 
revived with great power. But the most copious 
outpourings of the Spirit were received in Gloucester 
and the adjacent circuits, under the preaching of 
William McKendree, Leroy Cole and Stith Mead. 
Signs of revival appeared early in the Spring in 
different parts of Matthews and Gloucester. There 
were " general tremblings throughout the congrega- 
tions." Under the preaching of the word at the reg- 
ular appointments there were powerful convictions, 



364 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

loud cries for mercy, and many clear and joyous con- 
versions. These indications increased in number and 
importance, until on Whitsunday, at Mount Zion, a 
chapel erected by Mrs. Mary Mason Tabb, a lady of 
wealth and refinement, the friend of Asbury, and a 
mother in our Israel, a most extraordinary work broke 
out. *^ While I was preaching," says Mead, **my 
own soul being overwhelmed by a supernatural power, 
an awful trembling took place throughout the congre- 
gation." The revival began instantaneously. The 
slain of the Lord fell on every side. The wail of the 
penitent, mingling with the shout of the convert, and 
the songs of the children of God, made music such 
as angels delight to hear. For m.ore than a week 
the people crowded to the place in vast numbers. 
The word preached each day was immediately attended 
by the power of the Holy Ghost. The flame kindled 
here spread through the circuit like fire in dry stubble. 
Eager multitudes thronged the meeting houses. 
** Shrieking sinners fell on every hand, strewing the 
floors, and lay bathed in tears and sweat, regardless 
of their powdered heads, ribbons, rufiles, rings, and 
other finery." The physical indications were distres- 
sing to behold. " Stagnated blood, cramped flesh, 
drawn sinews, cries and groans," marked the anguish 
of the guilty soul. The work was general, deep, and 
genuine, embracing all classes and ages, from the 
child of six or seven summers, to the grey haired sire 
of seventy. Meetings were often kept up the whole 
night, and in the daytime hardly ever closed under 
five or six hours. Often the mourners were taken from 
the churches to private houses near by, and the work 



IN VIRGINIA. 365 

went on in the mansions of the rich, the cottages of 
the poor, and even in the cabins of the slaves. More 
than five hundred were added to the Church during 
the year, and among them many persons of great 
wealth and influence. The oldest Methodists declared 
that they had never witnessed such displays of divine 
power. At the regular week-day appointments it 
was no unusual thing for five, ten, and sometimes 
twenty to be converted before the meeting closed. 

This glorious work was not accomplished without 
great opposition from Satan and his agents. Stith 
Mead, on account of his zeal and success, was hon- 
ored with a full share of persecution. Of his troubles 
he writes: *' Persecution has grown to perfection. 
The burden mostly falls on me, yet my colleague has 
his share. At the beginning I was styled a madman ; 
it was declared that I threw my Bible at a man's 
head ; others said if I had my deserts I would be tied 
neck and heels and cast out of the meeting house. 
I visited a neigboring Quarterly Meeting, and it was 
reported that I had murdered a man, stolen his money 
and horse, and run off. Some said I deserved to 
have my neck broken ; while others determined that 
I should not return out of Matthews county alive. 
I went on board of a new ship, on the stocks, and they 
declared that I had laid a spell on her so that she 
could not be launched." He was described as a 
**master devil," and the Methodists as ^^ under devils," 
dancing round him at his meetings. 

A dancing master whose school was broken up by 
the revival, came to him in a great rage, wishing that 
he were dead and damned. He was threatened with 



S6^ MEMORIALS OF MRTHODISM 

a suit of tar and feathers, and often stood in peril of 

his life. 

He faced all these dangers raaufuUy, and remained 

at his post and God put great honor upon him as a 

preacher of the word. 

In the midst of his labors and persecutions he ex- 
claims: *^ Blessed be God my Saviour ! Tho' the waters 
have gone over me, the floods have not drowned me ; 
and tho' I have passed through the fire, the flame has 
not (as yet) consumed me. My trust is in him whose 
way is in the sea, and whose path is in the great 
waters. " 

The year closed with a great Christmas meeting at 
Matthew's Chapel. 

'* While we were commemorating," writes Mead, 
*Hhe Nativity, Crucifixion, Death and Kesurrection 
of our blessed Saviour, Satan assembled his agents 
and fixed his powder guns around the meeting house; 
presently a screech-owl was thrown through the win- 
dow and fell among the women ; but we had too 
much faith to be scared by an owl or powder guns. 
It was a time of great grace among the Christians, 
while the devil and his subjects were made ashamed. 
On Tuesday the Lord was with ns of a truth ; the 
floor was strewed with shrieking sinners, and before 
the meeting ended six souls professed to be converted. 
The general cry is, * never did we experience such a 
Christmas.' " He computed the year's results at 500 
converted and 640 added to the Church, besides those 
who united with other denominations. 

The Virginia Conference for 1798, met at Salem 
Chapel, Mecklenburg county, on the 9th of April, only 



IN VIRGINIA. 367 

four months after the preceding Conference. Asbury 
has a bare allusion to it in his journal; " We began 
Conference on Monday and ended on Wednesday even- 
ing; we had three public days. The peace and union of 
the Conference were apparently great. I was assisted 
to attend." 

Jesse Lee, who was present, gives a few items of 
interest. He opened the session with a sermon under 
which he says: ** We had a most powerful, weeping, 
shouting time ; the house seemed to be filled with the 
presence of God, and I could truly say it was a time 
of love to my soul. Bishop Asbury exhorted for 
some time, and the people were much melted under 
the word. Several new preachers engaged in the 
work, and we had a very good supply for all the cir- 
cuits. Under the preaching next day **abold and 
mighty charge was made upon the Philistines ; sin- 
ners fell different ways, while loud cries for mercy 
sounded through the house." 

Eefreshed and strengthened by this baptism of the 
the Spirit, the faithful laborers cheerfully repaired to 
their fields of toil for another year. 

The returns completed near the close of the year 
showed a small decrease in the membership in Vir- 
ginia, notwithstanding the revivals which had occurred; 
10,856 white, and 2,432 colored members were re- 
ported. But this was more than one-fifth of the en- 
tire membership of the Church, showing that the 
most fruitful soil of Methodism was in the Old Do- 
minion. From careful statistics taken this year by 
Jesse Lee of all the local preachers in the Connection, 



368 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

it appeared that 251, one-fourth of the whole num- 
ber, were in Yirglnia. Many of these had been in 
the itinerancy, were powerful preachers, and greatly 
assisted the travelling ministers in extending the 
limits of Methodism. 

The Conference for 1799 met at Jones' Chapel in 
Sussex county, on the 9th of April. Bishop Asbury 
was too feeble to preside, and his place was filled by 
Jesse Lee. *' Upwards of fifty preachers had assem- 
bled ; and they conducted their business in excellent 
temper and with great dispatch. Nine were received 
on trial, and seven were admitted into full connec- 
tion ; thirteen located, and one had ^ceasedat once to 
work and live.'" 

The members reported were 10,520 whites, and 
2,312 colored; the decrease was 336 w^hite, and 120 
colored members. The feeble condition of Asbury 
excited the fears of his Virginia brethren, and they 
urged him to suspend all pulpit labor, at least until 
the meeting of the Baltimore Conference. He was 
willing to obey, *^ feeling himself utterly unable to 
preacii a single sermon." By easy rides he passed 
through the lower counties, and reached Baltimore in 
time for the Conference on the first of May. The 
obituary list for this year contains the names of seve- 
ral faithful men, who, although some of them fell in 
other fields, deserve honorable mention as Virginians. 

John N. Jones died in peace in the city of Charles- 
ton, ** worn out with pain and a variety of weak- 
nesses and afilictions of the body. He was full of 
zeal, a fervent preacher, and a successful laborer in 
the vineyard of the Lord. He commended himself 



IN VIRGINIA. 369 

to all who knew him as a Christian and a Christian 
minister. At the time of his departure, he was *'rapt 
up in the vision of God." 

William Wilkerson died in the midst of his labors, 
in the Gloucester circuit. He had the appearance of 
a man who daily lived in communion with Christ. His 
preaching was greatly blessed in the conversion of 
souls, and in the building up of the Church. He 
Was seized with a bilious fever which -proved fatal in 
a few days. His death was as triumphant as his life 
had been holy. His last hours were spent in reciting 
his experience and labors as a Christian minister. 
Believing his sickness was unto death, '*he mani- 
fested no desire for men or means," and joyfully 
welcomed the moment of release from the sorrows of 
earth. 

James King was a native of Gloucester county. 
He had been nearly five years in the itinerancy. He 
had labored chiefly in Georgia and South Carolina. 
He possessed a good understanding, great zeal and 
a ready and pleasing utterance. As his life grew to 
a close, his love grew more fervent, and his power 
an(} success as a preacher greatly increased. The 
work of God gloriously revived under his ministry in 
several places. In Charleston, his last station, he la- 
bored with redoubled ardor until seized with the yellow 
fever, which soon closed his useful life. *'He gave his 
life, his labors and his fortune to the Church of Christ 
and his brethren, and was a friend to religion and 
liberty." 

The name of John Dickins disappears this year 
from the rolls of the militant Church. Though not- 
32 



370 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

a Virginian, his abundant labors in the State, as a 
pioneer preacher, entitle him to something more than 
a passing notice. lie was a native of England, bora 
and educated in the city of London. He became a 
member of the Church in this country in 1774, and 
in 1777 was admitted as an itinerant preacher. He 
traveled extensively through Virginia and North Car- 
olina during the Revolutionary war, and by his faith- 
ful preaching kept alive the spirit of religion in the 
Societies in that dark and trying period. Dickins 
was, perhaps, the most learned man among the early 
American Methodist preachers. Of the English lan- 
guage he was a perfect master. He understood the 
Latin and Greek, and w'as a proficient in Mathemat- 
ics and other branches of science; his mind was 
quick and clear ; he was a sound, close reasoner, and 
a *' very plain, practical and pointed preacher." He 
was the first superintendent of the Book Concern, 
first in New York, and in Philadelphia from 1789 
until his death. This responsible position he filled 
with efficiency. *'His skill and fidelity as an editor, 
inspector and corrector of the press were exceedingly 
great, conducting the whole of his business w^th 
punctuality and integrity." Every year he sent c ut 
into every State in the Union many thousands ot 
volumes on experimental and practical religion. < lie 
passed safely through two dreadful visitations of yel- 
low fever, in the third he fell. 

Shortly before his death he wrote to Asbury: 
'' Perhaps I might have left the city, as most of my 
friends and brethren have done, but when I thought 
of such a thing my mind recurred to that Providence 



IN VIRGINIA. 371 

which has done so much for me, a poor worm, that I 
was afraid of indulging any distrust, so I commit my- 
self and family into the hands of God for life and for 
death." 

In a letter to Asbury his wife gives a touching ac- 
count of his last days : ^ ' On the first day of his sick- 
ness, about three hours after he was taken, he called 
me to his bedside. * My dear,' said he, *I am very 
ill, but I entreat you, in the most earnest manner, 
not to be the least discouraged or uneasy. Tell the 
children I beg of them not to be uneasy, for Divine 
ivisdom cannot err. Glory be to God, I can rejoice in 
his will w^hether for life or death! I know all is w^ell. 
Glory be to Jesus ! I hang upon thee ! Glory be to 
thee, my God ! I have made it my constant busi- 
ness, in my feeble manner, to please thee, and now, 
God, thou dost comfort me!" — clasping his dear 
hands together, with tears running down his cheeks, 
crying, * Glory be to God ! Glory, glory be to God ! 
My soul now enjoys such sweet communion with him 
that I would not give it for all the world. Glory be 
to Jesus ! 0, glory be to my God ! I have not felt 
so much for seven years. Love him ; trust him ; 
praise him !' " 

Thus died John Dickins. Asbury's estimate of 
his character is brief but full : " For piety, probity, 
profitable preaching, holy living. Christian education 
of his children, secret, closet prayer, I doubt whether 
his superior is to be found either in Europe or Amer- 
ica." His brethren in Conference said of him: 

* * Accordhig to his time and opportunity, he w^as 
one of the greatest, characters that ever graced the 



372 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

pulpit, or adorned the society of ministers or Metho- 
dists. On his tomb might be engraved, or over his 
sleeping ashes with truth be pronounced, Here lieth 
he, ivho, in the cause of God, never feared nor flattered 
man.^'' 

The Hon. Asbury Dickins, who for many years 
filled the office of Secretary to the Senate of the 
United States, was the son of this great and good 
man. 

in the Minutes for this year, Richmond appears as 
a station. In 1793, ** Richmond and Manchester" 
were returned as a separate pastoral charge, but the 
next year they were again included in the circuit 
work. The Capital of Virginia was an unkindly 
soil for Methodism in the early times of our Church. 
In 1796, twenty-four years after the planting of 
Methodism in the State, '^ there was no meeting 
house, and not twenty Methodists in the metropolis." 
Till the year of which we write, the city was included 
either in the Hanover or Williamsburg circuit, as was 
most convenient to the preachers. 

Two families, the Parrotts and Aliens, are supposed 
to have been the first Methodists that settled in Rich- 
mond. They had been Wesleyans in England, and 
came to this country soon after the close of the Revo- 
lutionary War. The family of Slades, who had been 
Free Will Baptists in England, also united with the 
Methodists after settling in the city. Mr. Parrott was 
not a member of the Society, but a warm friend to 
Methodism, and his house was. the home of the 
early preachei's whenever they came to th« place. Of 
a visit to this family, Asbury says : ** Who could be 



IN VIRGINIA. 3Y3 

kinder, and more pleased to see us, and make poor 
sickly travellers welcome than Mr. Parrott and Ms 
wife?" 

Mrs. Parrott was a zealous and devoted woman, 
and threw all her influence in favor of religion. The 
residence of this worthy pair was on Main street, 
where the old Mansion House now stands. 

The first place of worship used by the Methodists 
was the county Court House in the lower part of 
the city. This they continued to occupy until, 
during a brief revival, a charge was made against 
them of disturbing the quiet and good order of the 
neighborhood by their loud singing and shouting, 
when they were excluded from the house by order of 
the magistrates. For some time after this their 
preaching place was in an old field in the northwestern 
suburbs of the city. Here large crowds attended, 
and the singing and shouting were as vigorous as 
ever. 

The zeal of Mrs. Parrott prompted her to fit up a 
sort of barn or store-house in the rear of her dwel- 
ling as a place of worship, and the out-door preaching 
was for a time given up. 

Asbury speaks of preaching *^to a few people in 
Mr. Parrott's store-house." In this humble place 
Asbury, Bruce, McKendree, and others preached the 
word, and comforted and encouraged the feeble band 
of believers. The increasins^ cong-res^ation soon filled 
the house to overflowing, and by permission of the 
magistrates the court house was again opened to the 
circuit preachers. Directly opposite the court house, 
on the corner of Main and 22nd street, in the old 

' 32* 



374 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

house yet standing, lived a Methodist family named 
Jones. Here tlie little flock used to meet in class 
after preaching in the court house. This was also a 
famous place for prayer meetings. Kev. Edmund 
Lacy, who removed to the city from New Kent 
county, and Joshua West, hoth well known to the 
older Methodists, were active members of the infant 
Society. 

The first efi:brts toward the erection of a church were 
made by Dr. Coke while on a visit to the city, pro- 
bably about 1796. He set to work with his usual 
zeal, but was only partially successful. An attempt 
was made to increase the sum collected by investing 
it in a commercial house, but by some mismanage- 
ment the whole was lost. 

]N"o further efforts were made in this direction until 
the year 1799, under the administration of Thomas 
Lyell. Asbury appointed him from the Baltimore 
Conference to take charge of the feeble Society in 
Richmond. The selection was a happy one. Lyell 
was a young man of zeal, engaging in his manners, 
and very popular as a preacher. At the time of his 
arrival in Richmond, religion was at a low ebb ; it 
was in fact very unfashionable. There were but two 
churches in the city — St. Johns, on Church Hill, at 
which the parish incumbent preached three times a 
year — at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, just 
often enough to prevent the loss of the glebe lands. 
The rector of the parish also preached once a month 
in the CapitoL The Baptists had a small church near 
the site of the Penitentiary. 

On reaching the city and surveying the field, Lyell 



IN VIRGINIA. 375 

saw that the Methodists must have a church . His plans 
were soon laid. He secured the privilege of preach-. 
ing in the Capitol every Sunday afternoon. Many 
were attracted by the novelty of a regular religious 
service, and his congregations were soon crowded. 

He grew instantly popular, became a general favor- 
ite, and found free access to all classes in the com- 
munity. He bent all his energies to the work of 
building a church, subscriptions flowed in freely, and 
by the close of the year, he had finished and opened 
a neat and commodious house. This church w^as sit- 
uated on the corner of Franklin and 19th streets ; it 
has long since disappeared, but is still remembered as 
the old hive of Methodism in Richmond. Many yet 
linger among us who can recall glorious displays of 
divine power which they have witnessed within the 
sacred walls of that old church. And there are not 
a few who regret that the Methodists did not retain 
the spot as the site of the mother church of Method- 
ism in Richmond. 

We have no accounts of any extensive revival in 
the city under the labors of Lyell, but if he did no- 
thing more, the building of a church and the gather- 
ing of a large congregation, showed that the spirit of 
religion pervaded the whole community. He had 
service in the new church three times on the Sabbath 
and once at night during the week. This was a strange 
thing in Richmond in those days. In the midst of 
his arduous labors, Lyell was well supported by sev- 
eral efficient local preachers. The Rev. James Coul- 
ling settled in the city in 1799, and entered into the 
work with great zeal and success^ 



376 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

He writes to a friend under date of this year: ^*I 
am settled in Eichmond at present, and hard at work. 
I think the Lord has sometUing for me to do here. 
I had a good meeting last night. The people in Glou- 
cester are still alive and upon the increase. God is 
likewise reviving his work about fifteen miles from 
this place, in a more powerful manner than ever 
known before. Pray God that it may burn this 
way." 

An incident in the history of this useful man is 
worthy of preservation. He was an Englishman by 
birth and in his youth was employed in a large estab- 
lishment in the city of London. In the same house 
were -several men who were members of Wesley's So- 
ciety. It was usual to allow a recess of an hour each 
day for dinner. These men were in the habit of 
meeting every Friday at a certain room, and spending 
the hour for dinner in holding a class meeting. They 
estimated the cost of their dinners for that day (fast 
day) and regularly brought the amount as their con- 
tribution to the cause of God. 

In this simple incident we see the secret power of 
Methodism as ** Christianity in earnest." 

A few years after the close of his labors in Eich- 
mond, Lyell located, subsequently joined the Protest- 
ant Episcopal Church, and became the rector of a 
church in the city of New York, the same over which 
Joseph Pillmoor presided for many years, after his 
withdrawal from the Wesleyan ranks. 

The Virginia Conference for 1800 was held at the 
house of "William Blunt, Isle of Wight county, on 
the 9th of April. From this year the records 



IN VIRGINIA. 377 

of tlie Conferences for Virginia have been pre- 
served, and we shall be able to place before the 
reader much curious and valuable information drawn 
directly from the authentic journals of the Confer- 
ence. As a specimen we give the proceedings at this 
session, so far as they have been recorded. 

** At the yearly Conference held at Blunt's, in the 
Isle of Wight, Virginia, for the year of our Lord 
1800, appointed formerly to be held in E'orfolk, but 
on account of the small-pox removed to Bro. Blunt's; 
the following persons were received on trial, and their 
recommendations filed and numbered — Wiley Jones, 
Samuel Meredith, James Hunt, Jesse Coe, Jesse 
Cole, John Cox, John Gamewell and William 
Davis. 

N. B. Brother Daniel Eoss, was recommended by 
several respectable members of the circuit where he 
resided, but as they had no intimation of his travel- 
ling at the Quarterly Meeting, his recommendation 
was not regularly through the Quarterly Conference ; 
this Conference nevertheless received him upon a pre- 
sumption that he will be regularly recommended 
hereafter. Brother Abner Henly, who formerly 
traveled in this Connection, but was located, is again 
received to travel in deacons' orders, wherein he for- 
merly stood, before he located. 

Brother Thomas Fletcher, received last year on trial, 
was thought by many of the preachers not to possess 
qualifications, or gifts to preach, and (they) urged he 
might be sent home, at least for a time, but after it 
was put to vote it was carried for him to travel, by a 
majority of one. 



378 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The following brethren were received into full Con- 
nection — Samuel Hooser, John Evans, Josiah Phil- 
lips, John Turner, Bannister Meddor, Joseph Dunn. 
When (it was) inquired who w-ould travel again, John 
Ray answered by letter that he would travel till Christ- 
mas. John West promised by letter also to travel for 
three months, Joseph Moore by letter promisedto travel 
for one year. Pemberton Smith labors under diffi- 
culties, but is willing to travel another year. "William 
Ormond has obliged himself by promise to travel 
only six months ; also William Atwood's affairs will 
call for his attention for a few weeks, but hopes after 
then to be able to return to the work. 

The preachers deficiencies for the past year were : 
$264,84. 

Drawn from the chartered fund, |80.00 

Received from the different circuits, 41.54 



121.54 

Total deficiency, 143.30. 

The above ?121.54were divided among the preach- 
ers according to their wants as far as it could supply 
them. 

The last Conference having voted (as is said) that 
an answer might be published to J. O'Xelly's publi- 
cation signed Christicola, this Conference took that 
business under consideration, and voted unanimously 
that an answer to the above piece ought to be pub- 
lished, and have accordingly appointed Dr. Coke, 
Jesse Lee, Philip Bruce and William McKendree as 
a committee to prepare and publish an answer to the 



IN VIRGINIA. 379 

Here the minutes close without date or signature. 
In reference to this session Asbury says: **We passed 
a close, comfortable Conference. We had great 
accounts of the work of God in the State of Dela- 
ware and also in Franklin circuit in Virginia. "We 
had grace, but no gold ; and we wanted $143 of sil- 
ver to pay the just demands of the preachers to their 
sixty-four dollars per year." 

Bishops and preachers suffered together in those 
days, and vied with each other in self-denial and sacri- 
fices for the cause of Christ. 

** One of my friends," writes Asbury, * ^wanted to 
borrow or beg £50 of me; he might as well have 
asked me for Peru. I showed him all the money I 
had in the world, about |12 and gave him $5; strange 
that neither my friends nor my enemies will believe that 
I neither have nor seek bags of money ; well they 
shall believe by demonstration what I have ever 
been striving to prove — that I will live and die a poor 
man. 

The members in Virginia were reported at 10,859 
\^hite, and 2,531 colored ; showing a gain of 339 
white, and 209 colored members. The old fields of 
Methodism still retained their numerical superiority. 
Gloucester reported 1,059: Greenville and Mecklen- 
burgl,230; Portsmouth circuit 709; Bedford 687; 
Amherst, 510. Three stations were returned ; Alex- 
andria, 119 ; Norfolk and Portsmouth, 298, the ma- 
jority being colored members ; Richmond, 50. 

The strength of Methodism lay in the free and open 
country. 

The Virginia Conference was called this year to 



S80 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

motirn the loss of a most valuable man. William 
Early had fallen asleep in Jesus. lie was a native 
of Bedford county. He labored zealously as a local 
preacher for several years, and was then received as 
an itinerant. He was full of zeal, a powerful, ear- 
nest and successful preacher. He was the honored 
instrument in the salvation of many souls. Seized 
with the yellow fever, while in l^ew Berne, l^orth 
Carolina, he refused to take his bed, and mounting 
his horse, rode off to his appointment. He had gone 
but a few miles, when, overcome by the fatal disease, 
he dismounted and threw himself under the shade of 
a tree by the road side. Here he was found by a 
gentleman, who kindly conveyed him. to his house. 
He lingered a few days in great pain, and then his- 
spirit was released, and ascended to the rest of the 
saints. "In the hour of his death he gave tokens 
of victory and happiness. In him the Church lost a 
faithful, laborious, and useful servant." 

The route of Asbury after the close of the Con^-' 
ference lay through the lower counties of the State. 
In this journey he preached as often as his feeble 
state of health would permit. Pushing on to reach 
Baltimore iu time for the opening of the General 
Conference, he came in company with McKendree 
and several other preachers to Hrbanna, on the Eap- 
pahannock river. He writes: "There had been 
some notice given that there would be preaching 
here ; the court-house doors were opened, but not 
one soul appeared ; we paraded upon the green awhile, 
and then went to the ferry — wind and tide both 
ahead, a leaky boat, weak hands and oars^ heavily 



IN VIRGINIA. 381 

loaded in the bow with four horses, and one of them 
ready to leap out : they cried out to me to put back ; 
after some hesitation, I thought we must go back» or 
to the bottom: after cruising two miles, brother 
McKendree and brother Snethen waited; brother 
Andrews and myself covered our retreat by riding 
twenty miles into Essex, and about sunset stopped at 
the widow Hundley's." 

A few days after, they were successful in crossing 
the river, and soon reached Alexandria. In this tour 
Asbury had travelled more than five hundi-ed miles 
in Virginia, and visited nineteen counties. On reach- 
ing Baltimore he writes : "I am persuaded that upon 
an exact measurement, I have travelled eleven hun- 
dred miles from the 10th of February, to the 27th 
of April ; my horse is poor, and my carriage greatly 
racked." 

The third regular General Conference assembled 
at Baltimore May 6, 1800, and closed on the 20th of 
the same month. "We had," says Asbury, **one 
hundred and sixteen members present." 

Several important measures were adopted at which 
we shall merely glance. 

The salaries of ministers were raised from sixty- 
four to eighty dollars per annum ; the same sum was 
allowed to their wives. Each child of a travelling 
preacher was allowed fourteen dollars to the age of 
seven, and twenty -four dollars from seven to fourteen 
years of age. 

An effort was made, at the instance of Dr. Coke, 
for the establishment of parsonages. The friends in 
each circuit were advised to purchase a suitable lot, 



382 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and build a preaclier's liouse thereon, and supply it, 
at least, with heavy furniture. 

A slight change was made in the form of trial for 
members. *'The members before whom the delin- 
quent was brought, were to judge of his innocence 
or guilt." If the preacher dissented from their deci- 
sion he had the right of appeal to the quarterly 
meeting Conference. 

The Conference rescinded the rule requiring preach- 
ers to give account of donations received from their 
friends. Up to this time no special provision had 
been made for the support of the Bishops ; their few 
wants had usually been supplied by private donations. 
The General Conference ordered that each Annual 
Conference should pay its proportional part towards 
their support. 

It was directed that the Annual Conferences should 
keep a correct record of all their proceedings, and 
send it up for the inspection of the General Con- 
ference. 

It was resolved that no preacher should hereafter 
be eligible to a seat in the General Conference until 
he had travelled four years and been admitted into 
full connection. 

The Bishops were authorized to ordain local dea- 
cons from the colored members, under certain condi- 
tions, but this rule was not inserted in the Discipline. 
The Southern preachers generally opposed it, and as 
it was not made public, a great many of the Metho- 
dists hardly knew that such a regulation existed. 

The most important action of this Conference was 
the election of a Bishop. Asbury had come to the 



IN VIRGINIA. 383 

determination to resign his office on account of his 
growing feebleness, and the great extent and con-, 
stantly increasing demands of the work. He had 
written his resignation and was ready to present it to 
the Conference. His purpose was happily arrested 
by the prompt action of the body. They drew up 
resolutions in which they urged the Bishop to recon- 
sider his purpose, and to consent to serve the Church 
as Superintendent as far as his strength and health 
would permit. He yielded to their wishes, and then 
the Conference determined to elect an additional 
Bishop. The question came up, whether the new 
Bishop should be merely an assistant to the elder 
incumbent, or be clothed with equal authority as a 
joint Superintendent. Two days w^ere consumed in 
the discussion, when it was decided that he should 
possess equal "rank, rights, and powers with the 
other Bishops." , 

There were two prominent men before the Confer- 
ences, Richard Whatcoat and Jesse Lee. The choice 
was to fall on one or the other. The claims of both 
were almost equally balanced. "Whatcoat had labored 
in America since 1784. He was a minister of large 
experience, earnest piety and strict integrity. Lee 
was known among the preachers **as a persevering, 
indefatigable man, of acknowledged integrity, and of 
uniform piety ; who possessed zeal which was not 
easily damped, and an experience that could not be 
questioned." He had follow^ed the fortunes of Meth- 
odism almost from its introduction into the country. 
He was perfectly familiar with all the details of busi- 
ness; clear in judgment, prompt in execution. His 



384 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

manners were plain but affable, and he was highly 
gifted as a speaker. Besides, he had the prestige of 
being the great pioneer of Methodism in Kew Eng- 
land. 

"With their complete knowledge of these two men 
the Conference proceeded to the election. There was 
no choice on the first ballot. On the second there 
was a tie between them. On the third ballot Lee had 
fifty-five votes, and Whatcoat fifty-nine. 

This General Conference was exceedingly pleasant 
and harmonious, and not without fruit in the conver- 
sion of souls. *'I believe," says Jesse Lee, '*we 
never had so good a General Conference before ; we 
had the greatest speaking, and the greatest union of 
affections that we ever had on a like occasion." Ac- 
cording to Asbury the preaching was as powerful as 
the speaking. He says : " The unction that attended 
the word was great — more than one hundred souls, 
at different times and places professed conversion du- 
ring the sitting of Conference. 

Here we may pause for a moment, and review the 
progress of Methodism in Virginia, from its entrance 
into the State to the close of the century. 

Twenty-eight years had passed since Robert Wil- 
liams preached his first sermon from the court-house 
steps at N'orfolk. During this period Methodism 
had spread over the whole State. Thirty-five cir- 
cuits had been formed, covering a vast territory, 
reaching from the shores of the Atlantic to the banks 
of the Ohio. A large portion of this great field lay 
in the wild .and uncultivated region in the western 
part of the State, where the hardy pioneer preachers 



IN VIRGINIA. 385 

were exposed to the perils of frontier life, while they 
followed the adventurous settlers into new and un- 
opened lands. As the fruits of ministerial toil, 
nearly 15,000 members had been gathered into the 
fold of Christ ; and although we have no guide to 
the number of preachers raised up among these 
thousands, we may well believe that the majority 
sprung from this, the most fruitful field of Meth- 
odism. 

Many houses of worship had been built. Societies 
permanently organized, and all the machinery of a 
powerful and flourishing Church put into harmonious 
operation. The partial dissensions which had pre- 
vailed in certain localities, had purified, instead of 
corrupting and severing the Church ; many who had 
been alienated for a time by false representations, 
had seen the error of their way, and gladly they re- 
turned to the fold they had forsaken— and Method- 
ism, purified by the fires of persecution, started on 
her career at the beginning of the new century with 
fresh vigor and courage. 

I^ever, since Apostolic days, had so much been 
accomplished in so brief a period, and with means, 
in a human point of view, so disproportionate to the 
work proposed. The doctrines presented were new 
and strange to the masses in every part of the land ; 
the preachers were without human learning or human 
influence ; 'they were plain men, with nothing to 
recommend them but the purity of their lives, the 
Scriptural character of their doctrines, and the zeal 
and fervor of their preaching. The cloud of war 
had gathered over the land in the infancy of the 
33* 



386 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Church. For a while she was under this cloud, her 
light ohscured, but not extinguished. Many preachers 
fled from the country, or ceased to itinerate. The 
chosen leader of the band lay concealed, now in the 
house of a friend, and now, as danger came near, in 
the deep forests, or almost pathless swamps, till these 
calamities were over past. But still in his heart 
faith, and hope, and courage remained. God was 
the refuge of his saints. He directed the storm, and 
rode upon the wings of the tempest. The' dark 
clouds rolled away, the light broke forth once more, 
and Methodism girded herself for her appointed 
work. In her ranks at the close of the century stood 
60,000 members, led on in the paths of the Lord by 
more than 1,000 faithful travelling and local preach- 
ers ; all the fruits of thirty years' toil in the Ameri- 
can field. "Well may we exclaim in astonishment and 
gratitude : * * What hath God wrought !" Kobly did 
our fathers cultivate the fields that Providence opened 
before them, and rich and plenteous the harvests 
they gathered for the garner of heaven. May we, 
their sons, be faithful to their doctrines, their princi- 
ples, and their holy example; so shall we be worthy 
to stand with them in the great day when the Master 
shall say: '*Well done, good and faithful servants, 
enter ye into the joy of your Lord." 



IN VIRGINIA. 387 



CHAPTER XI. 

Revival of 1801 — Conference at Dromgoole's Chapel— John ToIIe- 
son — Thomas Logan Douglass — Jesse Lee labors in Virginia — 
Conference of 1802 — Revival scenes — Progress of the work in 
the Valley — General Daniel Morgan — A Methodist dinner party 
— Conference of 1803 — John C. Ballew — Elizabeth Dandridge 
Ballew — First Camp -meetings in Virginia — Account of their 
origin — '* The Jerks," and other remarkable exercises — Popu- 
larity of Camp-meetings — Description of the ground and ex- 
ercises, 

THE year 1801 was ushered in with revivals. 
The good work of grace at the General Confer- 
ence was only like a few prelusive drops before the 
descending shower. On the adjournment of that 
body the preachers bore away with them to all parts 
of the work the flame of divine love. At the Duck 
Greek Conference, held in Delaware, two weeks after 
the General Conference, there was a most extraor- 
dinary outpouring of the Spirit. Many persons, 
fresh from the revival at Baltimore, attended this 
meeting. The business of the session was conducted 
in a private house, while the church, and even the 
houses of the neighbors, were filled with eager crowds 
listening to the word of life. The meetings were 
continued every day and night for a week. **Some 
of the people," says Jesse Lee, **when they were 
almost worn out, would go home in the evening or 



388 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

at midnight, and take a little sleep, and then as soon 
as they awoke, they would hurry off to meeting 
again, at any hour of the night." On one occasion 
the exercises continued without intermission for forty- 
five hours — the people going off in companies to pro- 
cure food and rest, and then returning to relieve 
those who remained to labor for souls. ITot less 
than one hundred and fifty were converted during 
the meeting." 

Over the whole field of Methodism, from Canada 
to Georgia, and from Delaware to Kentucky, the re- 
vival influence extended. The churches in Virginia 
shared largely in this gracious visitation. In his an- 
nual journey through the State, southward, Asbury 
was cheered by the tidings that reached him of the 
spread of the good work. From E"ew London, in 
Campbell county, he writes: *'Good news from the 
South District of Virginia, Brother Jackson writes, 
*two hundred souls have been converted this last 
quarter ; there is a revival in all the circuits but two, 
and great union among the preachers and people.' " 

The Virginia Conference for 1801, began at Drom- 
goole's chapel in Brunswick, on the 9th of April. 
We present extracts from the record. 

*'The following persons were admitted on trial, 
being recommended according to the order of our 
Church : 

Jesse Coe, Willie Jones, Banks Meecham Bur- 
rows, Jacob Watson, James Chappel, Thomas L. 
Douglass, and David Hume. 

William Hubbard was recommended ; objections 
were brought against him on account of his not hav- 



IN yiRGINlA. 389 

ing exercised his gifts, and being in debt ; lie was 
admitted by a small majority. Thomas Fletcher and 
John Ellis have both traveled two years ; their case 
was considered and it was determined that they should 
remain on trial. 

Bannister Meador, in deacons' orders, entered lo- 
cated, but no certificate, not having complied with the 
slave rule. 

Keceived of Stephen Davis' gifts $124,76 by the 
hands of Ira Ellis. Received of the gifts of Captain 
G. Hill, $75 on Brother Parham's order. 

Isaac Lunsford was re-admitted. Francis Poyth- 
ress not attending Conference, and it being understood 
that he wished to go to Kentucky Conference, he has 
a permission or a dispensation, to next Conference in 
the West." 

These are the only items of special interest con- 
tained in the Minutes ; they have no signature. 

Asbury gives but a line or two in reference to this 
Conference. * * We had a press of business, but were 
peaceable and expeditious. Brother Lee preached on 
Saturday. I held forth on Sunday morning to an 
unwieldy congregation in-doors, whilst "William Or- 
mond preached out of doors, and the poor blacks had 
their devotions behind the house." 

Death had spared all the Virginia preachers, save 
one faithful man. James ToUeson had fallen at his 
post full of honors and full of grace. He was born 
in South Carolina. Ten years he had been in the 
field, during which time he had preached the gospel 
from Georgia to IsTew York, he had fine gifts and an 
excellent understanding. His uniform piety and 



390 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

amiable manners made him a great favorite with the 
preachers and people. He died at Portsmouth, after 
a lingering illness, of yellow fever. In his last 
hours he manifested great resignation, and left the 
clearest testimony that his spirit had entered the par- 
adise of God. He willed all his property to the 
Church, and even sent his clothes to the Conference 
to be distributed among the preachers. 

The membership in Virginia was reported at 11,072 
whites, and 2,578 colored ; the whole increase was 
260. 

Among those who were received on trial at this 
Conference, stands the name of one who rose to high 
position in the ranks of the itinerancy : Thomas 
Logan Douglass is no ordinary name in the annals 
of American Methodism. 

His first circuit was Hanover, as the junior colleague 
of William Davis and Daniel Ross. He was quite a 
young man, and his appearance at this period has 
been described to us by the venerable Philip Courte- 
ney who knew him long and intimately. Mr. Oourt- 
eney was spending the day at the house of Mr. Lacy, 
a well-known and zealous Methodist. In the after- 
noon he observed a gentleman riding toward the 
house. He stopped at the gate and dismounted. He 
was about five feet six inches in height. On his head 
he wore a broad brimmed, black wool hat ; his coat 
was of light blue cloth, cut scant after the shad style; 
his vest was of olive colored velvet with long skirts ; 
he wore short breeches of the same material and 
color, not more than two spans in length, his legs be- 
ing very short His costume was completed by the 



IN VIRGINIA. 391 

addition of tight fitting deep blue yarn'stockings, slioes 
and buckles. It was Quarterly Meeting occasion in 
Eichmond, and Douglass was invited to preacb by 
Rev. Alexander M'Cain, the stationed preacher. 
His text was EzekiePs vision of the waters. After 
service they retired to the house of a friend, where 
Douglass asked McCain how he liked his exposition 
of the passage ; the latter replied : " Very well, but I 
could have waded where you had to swim." 

M'Cain was upwards of six feet high, but there was 
perhaps, a double meaning to the remark. Douglass 
preached again to the satisfaction of the people, who 
considered him a young man of much promise. He 
remained in the Virginia Conference twelve years, 
increasing in his influence and usefulness, and was 
then transferred to the Tennessee Conference, where 
he maintained, until the day of his death, the position 
of a chosen leader among the valiant band of itine- 
rants. 'No man has left a purer or more valuable 
legacy to the Church at whose altars he ministered 
more than forty years, than Thomas Logan Douglass. 

In Virginia and Tennessee his name is as precious 
ointment poured forth. In the resurrection thousands 
will arise and claim him as their spiritual father. 

The Virginia Conference was favored this year 
with the labors of Jesse Lee in one of the largest 
and most important districts. Having traversed the 
entire field of Methodist operations for several years, 
he now came home to do the work of an evangelist 
in a narrower, but hardly less laborious sphere. He 
was appointed to the Norfolk District. 

** It had nine appointments and eighteen preachers, 



392 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and extended in length from Norfolk nearly to Lynch- 
burg ; and in width embraced the country lying be- 
tween the James and Eoanoke Elvers, and their out- 
lets to the ocean." 

He entered upon the work in this extensive field 
with his characteristic zeal. He attended in one year 
** twenty-five Quarterly Meetings, was present at 
twenty-seven love feasts, and preached two hundred 
and ninety-four sermons." In addition to the regu- 
lar Quarterly Meeting appointments, he made it a 
rule ** to preach at every regular preaching place in 
the bounds of his district at least once a year." 

While he was a most earnest and devoted minister 
of Christ, joyful in his experience, and full of faith 
and the Holy Ghost, "he possessed a keen sense of 
the ridiculous," and few men could rebuke impropri- 
eties more effectually, and at the same time give less 
ground for complaint on the part of the offenders. 

Going into the pulpit on one occasion, he found 
the men and women violating the old Methodist rule 
by sitting together; supposing them to be ignorant ot 
the rule, he stated it, and requested the gentlemen to 
take seats on their own side of the house. AH but 
two or three at once complied ; he repeated the re- 
quest, when all but one retired. The request was 
again repeated, but the offender kept his seat. 
" Leaning dow^n upon the desk, and fixing his pene- 
trating eyes upon the offender for a moment, and then 
raising himself erect, and looking with an arch smile 
over the congregation, Lee drawled out: 

" Well, brethren, I asked the gentlemen to * retire 
from these seats, and they did so. But it seems that 






IN VIRGINIA. 398 

mun is determined not to move. We must therefore 
serve him as the little boys say when a marble slips 
from their fingers — let him go for slijopanee.'^^ 

The offender soon slipped out of sight. On another 
occasion he discovered a number of his hearers asleep 
in the house, while the groups in the yard disturbed 
him by their loud talking. 

*^ Pausing long enough for the absence of the sound 
to startle the sleepers, he raised his voice and cried 
out : " ril thank the people in the yard not to talk 
so loud ; they'll wake up the people in the house." 

The remainder of that sermon was delivered to a 
silent, wakeful and attentive audience." 

Salem Chapel, Mecklenburg county, was the seat 
of the Conference for 1802 ; it began on the first of 
March. The Minutes are as usual very meagre. 

**David B. Mintz, James Smith, and William John- 
son, were duly recommended according to the order 
of the Church. Eobert Carter offered himself to 
trial in the itinerant plan, but through the neglect of 
the Presiding Elder his recommendation was not filled 
up according to rule. However, he was received by 
the vote of the Conference. 

Brother Wiley Jones was accused of marrying 
contrary to the rule and order of the Church, but the 
case being thought doubtful, he was stripped of his 
official character, and considered as a member in 
connection. 

The preachers' annual collection, $79.38 

Collected from the circuits, 35.45 



114.83 



394 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

This money was equally divided among the preach- 
ers who were deficient in their quarterage. 

The fathers maintained a close over-sight of all the 
preachers, as these early records show. A candidate 
for deacons' orders failed to he elected ** for the pre- 
sent on account of his small abilities," the election 
of another was delayed " on account of an impedi- 
ment in his delivery." A member was charged 
with neglecting his appointments and with certain 
indiscretions — * * the committee appointed to hear the 
accusations thought him culpable, and directed that 
one of the Bishops should reprove him before the 
Conference, which was done." 

Asbury tells us more about this Conference than is 
usual with him. **We began and held close Con- 
ference four days; and had preaching each day. 
Bruce, Lee, Jackson, and Snethen, were our speak- 
ers; and there was a shaking among the people. 
Seven Deacons and one Elder were ordained. I w^as 
well pleased with the stations as far as they went; 
but Portsmouth, Bertie, Eoanoke, Haw Kiver, Guil- 
ford, and Salisbury should each have had an addi- 
tional preacher, if we had them; yea, Petersburg, 
Williamsburg, Hanover and Richmond also ; but the 
Lord hath not sent them, and we cannot make them. 
There was great strictness observed in the examination 
of the preachers' characters; some were reproved 
before the Conference for their lightness, and other 
lollies." The session was attended with a gracious 
revival ; twenty persons were converted, and the sav- 
ing influence of this good work continued long after 
the Conference closed. 



IN VIRGINIA. 395 

The numbers in Society are not given in the Min- 
utes for this year hy Conferences, but simply by cir- 
cuits and stations. There was, however, a consider- 
able increase in Virginia, as may be supposed by the 
unusually large gain of more than 13,000 in the en- 
tire work. 

In all the immense territory of Methodism, not 
one preacher had fallen during the year. In all the 
Conferences the response to the question, ** Who have , ^ 
died this yearf^ was, ^^ NoneJ^ Fredericksburg was /^ 
this year placed on the Minutes as a new circuit. 

The year following this Conference was greatly 
fruitful throughout the bounds of the Church. The 
circuits in Virginia shared largely in the great revival 
which was rolling like a wave of fire over the land. 
In the southern portion of the State, where the 
churches had felt the severest effects of division and 
discord, the Lord freely poured out his Spirit, and 
Zion raised her drooping head. The bands of love 
were strengthened among the older Christians, and 
many sinners were brought to feel the saving power 
of the gospel. 

At Mabry's Chapel, in Greensville, there was a 
glorious manifestation of the Spirit. Jesse Lee, who 
conducted the meeting, has left an account of the 
stirring scenes. ^*The place was awful indeed. 
After awhile, one proclaimed aloud that God had 
converted her soul. Another spoke out and said, * God 
had reached a young man's heart.' One of the 
preachers called to one of the sisters, saying, * Sister, 
your daughter has promised that she will set out for 
heavem' Thus they continued for a considerable time." 



d%4 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

He had another powerful Quarterly Meeting at 
Jones' Chapel, in Sussex. He thus describes the 
scenes of the Sabbath: **The meeting continued till 
sunsetting, in which time it was said sixteen souls 
were converted. The work was also among the 
blacks. About sundown a lad was converted, who 
was the last, there being but few people in the meet- 
ing-house. One of the preachers shouted aloud, and 
praised God that the Christians had taken the field, 
and kept the ground, for there was not a sinner left. 
Another preacher asked some of them to look out of 
doors, and see if they could not find one more sin- 
ner, for he thought if they could find another, he 
would be converted. But there was not another un- 
converted sinner to be found at the meeting-house. 
So they praised God together and returned home. 
Most of those who were converted were the children 
of Methodist parents, though some of their parents 
had been dead for many years." 

In Sussex circuit more than one hundred were con- 
verted in six weeks. The work of revival was not 
confined to this portion of the State ; in every dis- 
trict and in almost every circuit the churches were 
quickened and -sinners converted. On the Eastern 
Shore a general revival was in progress. Norfolk, 
Portsmouth, and the adjacent country shared largely 
in the blessed work. In Rockingham, at a meeting 
which continued for nine days, so great was the ex- 
citement that almost all secular business was sus- 
pended and the people flocked in crowds to the house 
of God. Some reminiscences of this meeting have 
been preserved by the Rev. Joseph Travis, who was an 



IN VIRGINIA. 397 

eye-witness of the scenes described. In his tour through 
the Valley, Bishop Asbury visited Harrisonburg in 
company with Nicholas Snethen and Enoch George. 
The preaching of these holy men was in demonstra- 
tion of the Spirit and in power. Under the pathetic 
appeals of George, *Hhe flinty hearts were broken 
in pieces, the iceberg professors melted into tears, 
while sinners were made to quake and tremble." 

The Bishop and his companions passed on their 
way, but the meeting was continued by Leonard 
Cassel, one of the circuit preaeh'ers, assisted by the 
local brethren. While Cass-el was preaching, **about 
midway the sermon, quick as lightning from heaven, 
the power and presence of the great Head of the 
Church was manifested in the midst. Ah! it was 
truly glorious^ — sinners crying for mercy, mercy — 
happy Christians shouting, luke-warm professors 
weeping and groaning — those who had been at vari- 
ance, in each others' arms weeping, and mutually 
begging each others' pardon, and promising hereafter 
to live in peace, and pray for one another." The 
exercises lasted till midnight. Next day they met 
again, and the displays of Divine power were still 
more wonderful. For nine days and nights the work 
went on with increasing power and success. 

*^ Never did I witness before, nor have I since," 
says the narrator, **such displays of Divine power. 
Profane sinners, downright skeptics, and God-defying 
wretches, would enter the church with their sarcastic 
grins, and countenances telling out upon them their 
rage and hellish malice at the work going on, and in 
less than ten minutes the very vilest of all such would 



39S MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

be stricken to the floor, as if shot by a deadly arrow, 
and for an hour or so^ remain speechless, breathless, 
pulseless, and, to all appearance, dead — then, after-, 
wards, with a heavenly smile, look up, stand up, and 
shout aloud, ** Glory, glory to God! my soul is con- 
verted, and I am happy." Many became afraid to 
enter the church ; and at a tavern one day it was 
asked by the company who would venture to go in 
and bring back the news of what was going on, 
when a Mr. Mackey proposed himself, as he was not 
afraid. I knew this young man well — he was ami- 
able, but very wild and heedless about religion. I 
noticed him when he came in. He began to count 
the number of persons then down on the floor. He 
proceeded as far probably as from one to six in count- 
ing, when down he came. He lay for about an hour: 
I remained close by him, and when he arose he com- 
menced shouting, * 'Glory to God !" and taking my 
hand, he exclaimed, **0h! if I had known the 
power of God, I should not have resisted it, as I have 
done." 

One of the greatest triumphs of grace at this 
meeting was in the case of a young man of talents, 
birth, and education, but an avowed infidel. '*He 
came into the church defying any power, human or 
Divine, to make a fool of him ; when, astonishing 
to relate, within ten minutes, yonder he lies prostrate 
on the floor. Breathless and pulseless, he lay for an 
hour or more, and when he arose it was tremendi- 
ously glorious. He afterwards became a minister." 

Father Travis believed that this great work was in 
answer to the fervent prayers of the pious class lead- 



IN VIRGINIA. 399 

er. The Church in Harrisonburg had been in 
a deplorably lukewarm condition, ''and prejudice 
abounded much more than the grace of God." 

*' I can never forget," he writes, ''the night I at- 
tended my class, when the leader sang and prayed, 
unfolded his class-paper, burst into a flood of tears, 
and with a half-choked utterance, said; 'Brethren, 
go home, I cannot meet you in class to-night.' He 
picked up his hat and walked out ; in slow proces- 
sion the rest of us followed. On my way home, 
passing by the stable of the leader, I heard a groan, 
the sound being that of a human being. I ap- 
proached, and it being a moonlight night, on looking 
in I saw the leader, James Burgess, upon his knees 
begging God to have mercy upon the Church. Oh, 
that we had more such leaders in this day as he then 
was !" 

The holy flame spread through the Yalley, and 
across the mountains to the counties lying along the 
Potomac. The venerable James Quinn, who labored 
this year on the "Winchester circuit, has left some in- 
teresting reminiscences of that part of the work. 
<'The territory of three large counties," he says, 
'.'was embraced in our bounds; namely, Frederick, 
Berkeley, and Jeflerson; and we must have rode 
near four hundred miles in reaching all the ap- 
pointments." Within these bounds he found a num- 
ber of excellent and talented local preachers. "In 
"Winchester Enoch, (afterward Bishop,) George, 
having located, was engaged in •school teaching. S. 
G. Roszell, having located, was engaged in the same 
business. Near the same place was located, on a 
33* 



400 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

farm, Kichard Swift. Between Shepherdstown and 
Charlestown, Samuel Welch. In the vicinity of 
Stevensburg there were Elisha Phelps, William 
M'Dowell, and Lewis Chastain. These had all been 
successful and popular travelliug preachers, a.nd were 
considered men of first-rate talents." While on this 
circuit he had the privilege of consoling the last 
moments of an illustrious patriot and warrior. 

** Permit me," he writes, "to mention my visit, 
in company with and by the request of brother G, 
Reed, to the sick-room of General Daniel Morgan, 
that terrible thunder-bolt of war, who, with his com- 
panions, made the British lion quail. But the thun- 
der and din of war had ceased, and the hero had 
retired to wear in private life the fading laurels ac- 
corded to him by a nation. Death, who had passed 
him in the battle-field, had not lost sight of him, and 
now he must go the way whence he shall never return* 
I was introduced to him in my ministerial character by 
Mr. Reed. He reached out his hand, and looking 
me full in the face, said : * 0, sir, I am glad you have 
come to see me, and I hope you will pray for me ; 
for I am a great sinner, about to die ; and I feel that 
I am not prepared to meet my God.' I ventured to 
show him the way of salvation by faith in him who suf- 
fered the just for the unjust, that he might bring us^ 
to God — then prayed with him. He wept much, 
and I left him bathed in tears, l^ever did I see tears 
flow more copiously from man, woman, or child. 
Ah, thought I, how Uttle can the honors or riches of 
the world do for poor man when death comes ! When 
I came round again death had done its work ; the 



IN VIRGINIA. 401 

body had been interred with the honors of war, and 
the, spirit had gone to God who gave it. Eev. Mr. 
Hill, Presbyterian minister, who continued his visits 
to the last, believed there was some ground of hope 
in his death. 0, how hazardous to defer repentance 
till stretched upon the bed of death !" 

Mr. Quinn has drawn the picture of a scene that 
cannot fail to interest the reader. "We are permitted 
to see the venerable Asbury spending a pleasant day 
in the midst of a Christian family, surrounded by a 
number of his chosen friends. 

**An arrangeiilent was made for the Bishop to 
rest a day or two at the house of his warm-hearted 
friend, Eev. Elisha Phelps, in the vicinity of Ste- 
vensburg, where he would receive his friends. Ac- 
cordingly, on Tuesday, August 24, at an early hour, 
before the heat of the day came on, a most inter- 
esting company convened at the lovely country 
residence, where true Virginia hospitality, in old 
style, stood ready to receive them with smiling wel- 
come. As soon as the company were seated in the 
not splendid, but neatly arranged parlor, in order 
that all things might be sanctified by the word of 
God and prayer, the Bishop, in his usually laconic 
and comprehensive style, addressed the throne of 
grace. Although the prayer was short, it seemed to 
take in all for w^hich man or minister should pray. 
The prayer concluded, the company resumed their 
seats ; and what then ? Light chit-chat, mixed with 
peals of laughter, in which all persons talk and no 
one hears? N"o, no; it was *the feast of reason 
and the flow of soul,' in a free flow of conversation 



402 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

on a variety of interesting topics, chiefly of a moral 
and religious character. The state of the old world, 
in religion and politics, occupied a part of the time. 
The revolutions in Europe, the shaking of thrones, 
the fulfilment of prophecy, the overthrow of the 
beast and the false prophet ; Newton, Faber, Benge- 
lius, and Wesley, on the fulfilment of prophecy; 
infidelity in Europe and America ; the spread of the 
gospel, the rolling of the stone cut out of the moun- 
tains, the glorious 1836, which, according to some, 
was to usher in the glories of the millennium ; these, 
together with the state of affairs in our own America, 
God maintaining his own cause, making bare his 
arm, pouring out his Spirit gloriously on different 
branches of his Church, etc., entered largely into the 
social entertainment of that pleasant day. 

And now, if I could, I would most cheerfully give 
the reader a minute description of that social band. 
I fear a failure, but will try. Well, then, here were 
our host and hostess, Rev. E. Phelps and wife. He 
had been a travelling preacher of respectable talents. 
His heart was still warm in the cause, though he had 
retired from the work. His open, good-natured 
countenance, told his guests that they were welcome, 
and that was enough. His deeply pious lady, some- 
what in advance of him in years, was of olden style, 
a sensible, well-informed woman, without the tinsel 
and flippery of modern etiquette. ^Her orderly 
movements, and countenance beaming with good 
nature, said to her friends, Eeel yourselves welcome. 

Then there was Mr. Asbury, in better health than 
usual, and in fine spirits ; I never saw him in a more 



IN VIRGINIA. 403 

cheerful and pleasant mood ; for the Lord was then 
gloriously pouring out his Spirit in many places, and 
many souls were coming home to God; and this 
always cheered the heart of the good man. 

"Well, that tall, swarthy Southerner, of ministerial 
garb and mein — who was that? That was Kev. 
Philip Bruce, a bachelor. He brought good news 
from the south of Virginia. His district was all in 
a flame. 

"Well, that somewhat robust, fine looking gentle- 
man, with black band, in Virginia cotton homespun, 
and that sickly looking lady near him, who were 
they ? That was Eev. Samuel Mitchell, of Botetourt, 
Virginia. He was a whole-souled Virginian, who, 
by word and deed, carried out the first principles of 
the doctrine contained in the Declaration of Ameri- 
can Independence. His heart was all on fire. The 
news of the great work of God in west Tennessee 
and Kentucky has just come to hand by private 
letters. In his amiable lady we saw and admired 
the power and loveliness of blessed Christianity, for- 
tifying the mind and cheering the heart, while sweet 
resiguation sat smiling at the approach of death. A 
few months more, and she slept in Jesus, and all 
was well. 

But there is still another interesting figure, some- 
what robust, but not corpulent, a fine manly face, 
and smiling countenance. "Well, that was Dr. J. 
Tildon, a local preacher ; had been a captain in the 
Revolution ; held a certificate of membership in the 
Cincinnati, with Washington's signature as Presi- 



404 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

dent of the Society. He was interesting in con- 
versation. 

That aged lady in black? That was Dr. T.'s 
mother. She had lived more than seventy years. 
She was waiting her change, and repining for heaven. 

Here also was Dr. William M'Dowell, late of 
Chilicothe, at that time in the prime of life, a man 
of most digaified appearance ; his raven locks hang- 
ing in ringlets, and beginning to be sprinkled with 
gray ; and the fine Irish bloom yet glowing on his 
cheek. He had been a successful travelling preacher, 
but had retired from the field of toil and privation. 
This was often a subject of regret to him. His amia- 
ble wife was also present, all vivacity of body and 
mind ; she had a smiling, talking eye, and when she 
spoke it was with wisdom ; what she said was worth 
attention and memory. 

And this ruddy Englishman, who looked as if he 
was always in a good humor, with himself and every 
body else ; and often laughed heartily, but not at his 
own wit ? That was brother Mason, the watchmaker, 
quite gentlemanly in his manners. And that meek, 
neat lady of Quaker appearance ? That was sister 
Mason. In her we saw a pattern of neatness and 
piety. 

Here too was the pious widow of Rev. B. Talbot. 
While her countenance well expressed the meekness 
and sweetness of resignation, it seemed to say, *Pity 
me, pity me, ye, my friends, for the hand of the 
Lord hath touched me !' Sympathies were well ex- 
pressed in those kind and gentle attentions which are 



IN VIRGINIA. 405 

calculated to sooth and cheer the bereaved heart, and 
no gloom was cast over the company. 

And now I must make you acquainted with my 
colleague, the Rev. Edward Matthews, a Welshman, 
and not long from his native land, with the fire, man- 
ners, and dialect of his country — a pleasant and 
companionable man, and zealous in the cause of 
God. He was modest and reserved, but Mr. Asbury 
and the Virginians led him out and made him feel at 
home. 

But it is proper that I should notice one other cir- 
cumstance, which added much to the religious socia- 
bilities of the day : it was music — sweet, spirit-stirring 
music. It charmed the ear, and warmed the heart. 
"We had six or eight intellectual musical instruments 
in our company, which the Lord himself had strung 
and tuned. The Methodists used only such in that 
day. With these we occasionally made melody in our 
hearts to the Lord. In this exercise Dr. M'Dowell 
took the lead, for he had the best instrument in the 
company, and could use it with skill. He sounded 
the key-note, all the rest chiming. 0, it was heart- 
warming, soul-animating. 

The writer of this reminiscence was also one of 
the company. But he was the junior of all present ; 
at that time a student of the fourth year in the Meth- 
odist Theological Seminary, which had its establish- 
ment in all the United States, and a few branches 
in the Western wilds ; and a backwoodsman withal ; 
it behooved him therefore to be swift to hear, and 
slow to speak. But being now in * good company,' 
he resolved to take a lesson or two on good behavior. 



406 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and Christian politeness, and also to gather a few 
good thoughts on divinity ; for in those days he was 
all eye and ear, and constantly on the look out ; he 
was studying men as well as a few good books. 

In due time we were summoned, to the dining- 
room. Upon approaching the table, the Bishop 
tuned his musical powers — a deep-toned, yet mellow 
bass, to 

♦* Be present at our table, Lord, 
Be here and and every Where adored ; 
Thy people bless, and grant that we 
May feast in Paradise with Thee.'? 

The blessing asked, and all were seated — old Vir- 
ginia for all the world ; and for once we partook of 
food ; ate our bread with singleness of heart. The 
decanters, with wine or stronger drink, were neither 
on the table nor sideboard, but we had a fresh supply 
of new wine just from the Kingdom. From the 
dining-room we returned to the parlor, and again 
united our musical powers in one of the songs of 
Zion, then bowed before the sprinkled throne, and 
found access, by one Spirit, through the one and 
only Mediator to the God of all consolation. The 
afternoon passed pleasantly and profitably away on 
subjects of conversation. We had just entered the 
nineteenth century. Here were those who had wit- 
nessed many of the scenes of more than half of the 
eighteenth century ; the prophecies which, in whole 
or in part, in the old and in the new world, had been 
fulfilled, and what would probably take place in the 
fulfilment of prophecy during the century on which 
we had just entered. Glorious things were antici- 
pated, and we were ready to think that the beast and 



IN VIRGINIA. 407 

the false prophet would both be overthrown, and 
Satan bound and imprisoned. But the day was now 
far spent, the shadows were lengthening, and the 
time for parting came, when all met in the parlor, 
and tuned our well-strung instruments in lofty 
strains to 

" The Lord into his garden came. 

The spices yield a rich perfume, 
The lilies grow and thrive," etc., 

and then the parting prayer and benediction by Mr. 
Asbury. 0, it was a season not soon to be forgotten. 
It savored of heaven." 

Such is the picture of a Methodist dinner-party in 
the olden time. All who gathered around that happy 
board have long since met and feasted together in the 
presence of the Lamb. 

It appears to be uncertain whether the Conference 
for 1803 was held in Virginia or jS'orth Carolina. 
The Journal simply states that it was *< held at Olive 
Branch Meeting House, and began on the first of 
March." The following persons were received on 
trial: John Gibbons, Edmund Henly, John C. Bal- 
lew, James Taylor, and William Wright. *'A 
recommendation in favor of Eichard Lattimore, of 
l^orfolk, was presented, but owing to a general 
report of the loss of a relation of his at sea, it was 
thought best to refer him to the Presiding Elder, so 
that if the above report should prove groundless, and 
he should travel this year, he shall be considered on 
trial from this Conference." 

The demand for laborers was so urgent in those 
early days that the Conference sometimes departed 
from the usual custom, and received persons on trial 
34 



408 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

■Who had not been regularly recommended by a Quar- 
terly Conference. At this session the ** Conference 
dispensed with the form," and received an applicant 
on the ** recommendation of Philip Bruce and other 
members." In reference to the vexing question of 
slavery, we find the following: ** On motion of Wil- 
liam Ormond, a committee of three, viz : W, Ormond, 
Philip Bruce, and Joseph Moore, was appointed to 
receive, daring the course of the year, from the 
preachers who have the charge of the different cir- 
cuits, information of all weighty and singular cases, 
relative to the expulsion of members for slavery, and 
to prepare a remonstrance and petition relative to 
the present rule on that subject, which is to be 
brought to the next Virginia Conference, and then 
and there to be examined, and prepared to be laid 
before the next General Conference." 

The deficiences of the preachers amounted to 
$305.50. To meet this the following sums were 
reported : 

" By preacher's fund, $76 00 

*' marriage money,* 3 25 

*^ the circuits, 67 17 

'* chartered fund, 90 00 

'' S. Davis' legacy, 66 00 



f 282 42 



Remaining deficit, 23 08 

Here the Journal closes without signature. 
Of this Conference, under date of Saturday, March 
6, Asbury writes : '* Ended our most amicable Con- 

* Marriage fees reported as required by the rule of Conference. 



IN VIRGINIA. A09 

ference which began on Tuesday. We had preach- 
ing each day by M'Cain, Hull, Lee, Snethen, and 
myself on the last day. "We ordained the travelling 
and local Deacons on Friday, and the Elders on 
Saturday." 

The Sunday following was a day of gracious visi- 
tation to preachers and people. **Our stand," says 
Asbury, * * was in the woods ; our congregation con- 
sisted of about two thousand souls. I was exceedingly 
pleased with our Conference love-feast — with its order, 
solemnity, and life — the testimonies borne appeared 
to be all given under the immediate impulse of the 
Spirit of God, both in ministers and people." "What- 
coat was present, but being ill, the whole burthen of 
the Conference fell on Asbury. 

The returns of members showed the gracious fruits 
of the revivals which had spread over the Confer- 
ence; 13,099 whites, and 3,794 colored membei^s 
were reported in the bounds of the Conference ; the 
increase for the two years preceding was more than 
3,000 ; the whole gain in Virginia was much greater, 
as a large portion of the State was embraced in the 
Baltimore Conference. It would hardly be an over- 
estimate to place the increase in the entire State at 
more than 5,000 souls. 

Among the preachers received on trial this year 
there was one who deserves notice as one of the most 
useful men in the Virginia Conference. 

John C. Ballew was this year enrolled in the itine- 
rant ranks. Sixty years ago, the Cataw!^a country in 
North Carolina was an almost unreclaimed wilder- 
ness. The land was exceedingly fertile, producing 



410 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

in abundance every thing needed by the hardy pio- 
neers that settled it. The tribes of the Catawba, 
Cherokee, and Creek Indians, were near by, and 
looked with jealous eyes on the encroachment of the 
whites. The forests were full of game, and hunting 
was a favorite pursuit with all classes. The trusty 
r']fle was a constant companion of almost every man, 
and w^as used with deadly effect against the prowling 
wild beast, or the cunning savage. 

In this wild region Methodism was planted at 
an early date. The Methodist preacher hunted up 
the hardy settlers in their forest homes, and pro- 
claimed the gospel to groups of wondering hearers. 
One of these zealous men appointed a woods-meeting 
at which the inhabitants gathered from miles around. 
A revival broke out, and a large number professed 
religion. Among the converts was young Ballew. 
Not long after his conversion he felt that he ought 
to preach. But he was almost wholly without edu- 
cation ; he could scarcely read without spelling his 
way through the words. He was in a great measure 
ignorant of Methodism. He knew its doctrines, and 
he cordially embraced them. He knew it had an 
itinerating ministry. He felt that he must become a 
travelling preacher ; but how or where to begin he 
knew not. At length, in the spring of 1803, he 
learned that Bishop Asbury would hold a Conference 
in Virginia within a few weeks. He at once made 
up his mind to go and see what sort of a thing a 
Conference was, and if on inspection he liked it, he 
determined to join. He bought an Indian pony, 
saddle, and saddle-bags, took a few clothes, bade 



IN VIRGINIA. 411 

adieu to his friends, and set oft*. Late in the day, 
probably a week after leaving home, he reached the 
place of his destination, bespattered with mud from 
head to foot, and immediately began to enquire for 
the Conference. He received directions and rode up 
to the place of meeting. Conference was in session, 
but a few preachers were standing about the door. Bal- 
lew, seated on his horse, saluted them in backwoods 
style, told them his name, where he was from, and 
what object had brought him to the place. One oi 
the preachers inquired whether he had received a 
recommendation from his class. 

"Ko," said he; ** I didn't know that was neces- 
sary." 

**Have you letters from the preacher in charge of 
your circuit ?" 

^^No, sir," I brought no letters from anybody. I 
think," he added, *'you have a Bishop in your Con- 
ference ?" 

** Yes ; Bishop Asbnry is in attendance.'* 

** Well, T should like to see him" 

He had an interview with Asbury, told him his 
simple story, and at once touched the old man's 
heart ; he treated him kindly, and received him on 
trial. On his first circuit he preached but poorly ; 
the people were disappointed and dissatisfied, and he 
became greatly discouraged. His colleague strove to 
cheer and encourage him, but still his spirit was 
clouded and unhappy. At one appointment he 
preached so wretchedly, that at the close of the ser- 
vices not a person in the house invited him to dinner. 
"When he came out of the church there was nobody 



412 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

in the yard but a solitary negro. Ballew went to 
his horse with a heavy heart. The negro now ap- 
proached him, and with a polite salutation, said; 
* * Massa, go home wid me ; my massa couldn't come 
to meeting to-day ; he always glad to see de preach- 
ers ; he wouldn't like for you to pass him by." 

** Who is your master?" said Ballew. 

**John Murphy is my master, sir; he belongs to 
dis class, and I can tell you, if you go dar, you'll be 
at home; he's mighty fond of de preachers." 

"Well, my boy, I'll go with you." 

He went, met with a warm reception, and found 
Joe's ** massa" all he had represented him to be. 

At his next appointment at this place he preached 
well, everybody was pleased, and at the close of the 
services he had many pressing invitations. He de- 
clined them all, and called out, ** Where is Joe? I 
intend to go with Joe ; he invited me to his master's 
house when I was here before, and I will go with no 
one but him to-day." They felt the rebuke, and the 
lesson was not lost. 

His character was marked by a few innocent ex- 
centricities. Sometimes when he had carefully pre- 
pared a sermon, and on reaching his appointment, 
found a small congregation, he would change his 
mind and extemporize a discourse, saying he had 
expected a large congregation, and intended to preach 
them a great sermon ; but as there was only a hand- 
ful, he should not shoot a buck-load at snow-birds. 
He was a man of order, and allowed no rudeness or 
impropriety at his meetings. 

In the severe school of the itinerancy he rapidly 



* IN VmGlNlA. 413 

improved, and became a powerful and successful 
preacher. Physically, he was made to endure hard- 
ships. His frame was stout, miiscularj and compact. 
His height was about five feet nine inches ; his head 
was large and well formed, his face square, forehead 
broad, and his features well defined* He was truly 
a man of iron, and would attract the notice of a 
stranger as soon as his eye fell upon him. There 
was that about his whole demeanor and appearance 
which indicated great energy and originality of char- 
acter. His mode of speaking was such as sets all 
imitation at defiance. His voice was deep and 
strong ; the words fell from his lips separately and 
with emphatic distinctness, each one making its own 
impression on the mind of the listener. He was a 
close, clear thinker, and when warmed with his sub- 
ject, a powerful reasoner. He indulged but little in 
fancy ; was always forcible, and often eloqueni. He 
had a high sense of moral right, a mind of extraor- 
dinary firmness, that reached its conclusions slowly, 
and maintained them with much vigor and force of 
argument. 

An anecdote has been related of him which illus- 
trates the candor of the man. In the days of his 
full strength a camp-meeting was held, probably in 
Fluvanna or Albemarle, at which, on Sunday, there 
was an immense concourse of people. A number of 
distinguished men were present, among them James 
Madison, and perhaps Thomas Jefferson. The ablest 
preachers were of course selected for the Sabbath 
appointments. A preacher of decided talents held 
forth at 8 o'clock; at 11 Thomas L. Douglass 



414 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

preached a powerful sermon, wHcli made a profound 
impression on the vast audience ; at 3 Ballew took 
the stand, and began a discourse that rose in power 
and grandeur, till the whole assembly were spell- 
bound. The application was overwhelming — th^ 
great men declared they had never heard such a ser- 
mon before. When he had concluded, he paused a 
moment and looked over the congregation ; then ex- 
claimed, '*I^ow you have just heard one of the 
greatest sermons you ever listened to in your lives. 
Mr. Benson himself could not beat it ; for it is one of 
his best.^^ He had actually repeated, almost literally, 
and with tremenduous effect, one of the most elo- 
quent sermons of this great preacher. 

His fondness for hunting almost assumed the form 
of a passion. He usually carried his gun with him 
round the circuit, and his rest days were generally 
spent with some family near a forest where game 
abounded. He seldom returned from his hunting 
excursions without bringing ample proof of his skill 
as a marksman. 

One of his greatest feats was the killing of a large 
panther in the county of Hanover, while hunting wild 
turkeys. He found the monster crouched in the 
branches of a large tr«e, glaring on him with his fiery 
eyes. Nothing daunted, he cautiously approached 
and watching his opportunity, fired upon him with a 
single charge of large shot. The huge brute fell 
dead to the ground. This scene he would describe 
in all its details in his own peculiar manner, as one 
of his greatest exploits as a hunter. 

He travelled in the Virsrinia Conference until the 



IN VIRGINIA. 415 

failure of his health disqualified him for the full work 
of the ministry, he then took a superannuated relation 
to the Conference and soon after removed to Tennes- 
see where he settled on a small farm. Here he spent 
his time in preaching, cultivating the soil and re-en- 
acting the hunting scenes of his youth. His next 
move was to Missouri, where he lived a few years 
useful in his labors, and beloved by all who knew 
him. Here he ended his days in peace in the year 
1848. 

His wife gave an interesting account of his last 
moments : ** My monitor, my guide has gone to reap 
the reward of forty-five years faithfully spent in the 
ministry. But a little time before he left me, he told 
me he should not be long with me, and that his way 
was clear and bright as the noonday sun ; that not 
the shadow of a doubt rested on his mind. He then 
said : * Betsy, I want you to hold fast whereunto you 
have attained, read the Scriptures, pray much, live 
holy and meet me in heaven. ' " 

Thus died John 0. Ballew. His venerable partner 
survived him until the year 1861, when she left this 
world and ascended to meet him in heaven. She re- 
mained in Missouri several years after his death, and 
then at the solicitation of her friends removed to Vir- 
ginia. She found a conifortable home in the family 
of her nephew, Mr. James Lyons, near the city of 
Richmond, where she lived a cheerful, contented and 
ripe Christian lady, calmly awaiting the summons to 
rejoin her sainted husband. Mrs. JBallew was in 
every sense a model Christian. She was highly intel- 
ligent, well versed in the doctrines of the Bible, and 



416 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

an ardent Methodist. Slie had braved the trials of 
the itinerancy in the days that tried the souls of those 
noble women who cheerfully shared the labors of our 
early preachers. The naemory of her husband was 
cherished as a sacred treasure ; she scarcely ever 
mentioned him without visible emotion, and invaria- 
bly spoke of him as ** that precious and immortal 
spirit" whom she longed to meet on the shores of the 
heavenly Canaan. She manifested a lively interest 
in all the enterprises of the Church, but the cause of 
missions lay especially near her heart. When in ex- 
treme age she toiled diligently in making various 
articles which were sold for the benefit of the mission- 
ary treasury. Some of our readers will remember that 
at the Virginia Conference at Alexandria, in 1860, a 
large and excellent bed quilt was exhibited at the mis- 
sionary meeting wrought entirely by this sainted woman 
when she was above eighty years of age. It was sold for 
one hundred dollars and presented to Bishop Paine. 
The life of Mrs. Ballew was truly a life of faith. I^ot 
a doubt seemed to linger in her mind ; not a cloud 
appeared in her sky. Steadily the Sun of Righteous- 
ness shone upon her, and illumined her life with full 
splendor. Her love for the house of God was ardent, 
and though for years before her death she was a crip- 
ple, hobbling on crutches, she regularly filled her 
place in the Church, unless prevented by sickness. 
The Lord's supper was a spiritual feast to her soul, 
and the members of Centenary Church, in Richmond, 
will never forget those impressive, monthly scenes 
when this mother in Israel, wrecked in body, but 
strong as an angel in spirit, would on her seat, her 



IN VIRGINIA. 417 

aged face bedewed with tears, receive the emblems of 
a Saviour's dying love. 

She was taken to rest after a very short illness, 
and w ith little suffering. Her ardent wish was to be 
buried by the side of her much loved companion in 
Missouri, but the war prevented this, and she was 
laid among her kindred in the old burying-ground in 
New Kent county. Elizabeth Dandridge Ballew was 
one of the heroines of Methodism. 

Had she lived in the earliest ages of Christianity, 
when holy men and women were often called to seal 
their faith with their blood, her name might have 
been enrolled in that noble army of martyrs whose 
blood was the seed of the Church. 

The year 1803 is famous for the introduction of 
camp meetings into Virginia. In the spriug of this 
year the first meeting of this kind was held in the 
county of Brunswick. It was held " at a new 
meeting house," says Jesse Lee, ** which was named 
Camjp Meeting House, \hdX it might be remembered in 
future, the first camp-meeting in that part of the 
world was held at that place." The exercises began 
on the 27th, and closed on the 30th of May. During 
this time thirty persons were converted. From this 
date these meetings became almost an institution of 
Methodism, and so vast were the numbers converted 
at them, that it becomes proper to give some account 
of their origin. 

Camp meetings arose during the great revival 
which prevailed in the " Western Country," as it was 
then called, in the years 1799, 1800, and 1801. 

This great work broke out under the preaching of 



418 MEMORIALS Ob METHODISM 

two brotherSj John and William McGee, the one a 
Presbyterian the other a Methodist minister. It is 
supposed that they removed from Korth Carolina and 
settled in West Tennessee. Their difference in doc- 
trinal views did not prevent them from laboring to- 
gether as true yoke-fellows in the gospel. In 1799 
they set off on a preaching tour through a portion of 
Kentucky called the ** Barrens." On this journey 
they attended a sacramental meeting under the charge 
of Rev. Mr. McGready, a Presbyterian minister. At 
this meeting the McGees preached with great fervor 
and effect. Messrs. Rankin and Hoge, Presbyterians, 
were also in attendance and preached in the power of 
the Holy Ghost. *' Such was the movement among 
the people, evidently under the impulses of the Divine 
Spirit, that, though Messrs. McGready, Hoge and 
Rankin left the house, the two McGees continued in 
their places, watching the movement of the waters. 
William McGee soon felt such a power come over 
him that he, not seeming to know what he did, left 
his seat and sat down on the floor, while John sat 
trembling under a consciousness of the power of God. 
He was expected to preach, but instead of that he 
arose and told the people that the overpowering 
nature of his feelings would not allow of his preach- 
ing, but as the Lord was evidently among them, he 
earnestly exhorted the people to surrender their hearts 
to him. Sobs and cries bespoke the deep feeling 
which pervaded the hearts of the people." 

The tidings of this scene spread far and wide, and 
the people came in crowds to see what these things 
meant. They came with their wagons, bringing 



IN VIRGINIA. 419 

bedding aud provisions ; some built temporary huts, 
or pitched their hunting tents ; and these Methodists, 
Baptists and Presbyterians all united together to push 
on the good work. 

At the expense of being tedious we present an 
original letter, never in print before, we believe, from 
John McGee to Asbury, giving a minute account of 
a similar meeting. The historical value of the letter 
must be an apology for its length : 

*' Cumberland, June 10th, 1801. 

'' Dear Sir : 

** As I know it gives you satisfaction to hear of the 
Lord's work, so it gives me pleasure to communicate. 
On Friday, the 5th instant, I attended a Presbyterian 
sacrament on Eed River, in Mr. McGready's congre- 
gation ; the place where this glorious work first began 
in great power a year ago (namely in August, 1800.) 
I took a minute of the most particular circumstances 
which took place during the meeting. We met on 
Friday. Mr. McKadoo, introduced the solemn occa- 
sion by a sermon on Leviticus xi : 44 : '^ For I am the 
Lord your God : ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, 
and ye shall be holy, for I am holy : neither shall ye 
defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing 
that creepeth upon the earth." To the purpose, but 
nothing extraordinary appeared amongst the people. 
In the afternoon, William McGee preached on John 
X : 27 : * My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 
and they follow me.' At the close of his discourse 
there was a good move ; some of the Christians were 
much blessed and gave glory to God. At the light- 
35 



420 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ing of a candle, I stood on the stage ; the subject 
was in Matt, xxiv : 44 : * Therefore be ye also ready, 
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man 
cometh.' The appearance seemed to increase, several 
poor sinners eried for mercy, but none were converted 
that we knew of. Saturday, the 6th, Mr. Kankin 
preached on John xvii : 3 : * And this is life eternal 
that they might know thee the only true God, and 
Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' At the close of 
his sermon the Lord was present in power, and gave 
sanction to his word ; many were filled with joy in 
believing, while others trembled and fell to the earth, 
being in pain to be delivered from the body of sin 
and death ; there could be no more preaching ; the 
work went on till sometime in the night, during 
which time there were several exhortations delivered 
with life and power, chiefly by lay members, and 
three souls, we have reason to believe, struggled into 
the glorious liberty of the Son of God. 

" Lord's day, (the 7th inst.) Mr. McGready preached 
on John xvi chapter, 24th verse : 'Ask, and ye shall 
receive, that your joy may be full.' At the close of 
his sermon there was a considerable move among 
the people for the space of two hours, during which 
time one soul professed to find peace with God through 
our Lord Jesus Christ, and a number more appeared 
in great distress. For some time we were held in sus- 
pense whether the Lord's supper would be adminis- 
tered this day or not, but after some time the stir 
abated and then the sacrament was administered, du- 
ring which time Brother John Page (circuit preacher) 
preached at the house some distance from the stand, on 



IN VIRGINIA. 42^% 

these words : '' Search the Scriptures, for id them ye 
think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify 
of me." Afterward there was an exhortation given,, 
and the power of God came down and there was a- 
great cry, which continued till some time in the night, 
and seven souls professed to find the Lord to be a 
sin-pardoning God; their souls being filled with j'oy 
in the Holy Ghost. 

"Monday, the 8th, the Lord began to work, the 
people were all collected and a poor, old, grayheaded, 
persecuting sinner cried for mercy, and God granted 
him mercy, and he gave glory to God with a loud 
voice. 

**PreachingbyMr. Hoge, on John v. chapter, 40th 
verse: " And ye will not come unto me, that ye might 
have life," began at the usual time, but the people 
seemed stupid. In the afternoon I spake on 2 Cor. , 
V. chapter, 20th verse, " E"ow then we are ambassa- 
dors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by 
us, w^e pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled 
to God." At the close of the discourse the Chris* 
tians prayed, and the Lord answered ; his power 
came down, and an exercise began and continued all 
night, we could not ascertain the number converted, 
but we had good evidence to believe that between ten 
and twenty found Christ Jesus the Lord. What was 
remarkable, just after the exercise began this evening, 
there was a dreadful storm of thunder and ligntning, 
wind and rain, and that, together with the shouts of the 
happy Christians, the cries of the wounded, distressed 
sinners, the exhortations and prayers of the active mem- 
bers, proved an awful scene. It is worthy of observa- 



422 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

tion that thongli it had threatened once or twice before, 
during the meeting, it rained not, till -the preachers 
had preached, and done all they could, and the Chris- 
Asians had prayed and done all they could to recover 
poor, gospel hardened sinners from the jaws of ruin; 
but all this was likely to prove inefiectual — then God 
spake by awful claps of thunder, and while heaven, 
earth and the terrors of hell spake, many poor sin- 
ners fell to the floor, and cried in bitter agonies of 
soul for mercy. 

* 'There were twenty wagons and stages at this 
meeting loaded with people and provisions. The 
preachers' hearts seemed warmly attached to God, his 
work and each other. Party spirit and narrow faced 
bigotry are dying fast. 0, that they were extermina- 
ted from the earth, and that all God's ministers could 
see eye to eye, and love, and preach, and pray to- 
gether. It is wonderful to hear -.the children speak 
of the wonders of the Lord, in strains of wisdom and 
piety surpassing human powders ; this must be the ef- 
fect of the spirit of the Lord within. 

' * As we returned home we fell in with three 
wagons going from the meeting ; the people within 
were making the barrens ring with their praises to 
God, while some of them were quite overcome and 
helpless with his power and love. Brother Page was 
under an obligation to go from our meeting to attend 
one of his appointments at a place called the Ponds, 
(on Monday) and he informed us that the Lord was 
there in power, and ten souls professed to find Him 
* of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did 
write,' and shouted victory through the blood of the 



IN VIEGINIA. 423' 

Lainb; a number more seemed in deep exercise, ^and 
we hear some of them have been converted since. 
0, that this glorious work would spread to the onda 
of the earth ! 

"Yours in Jesus Christ, 

"John McGee." 

The great and blessed results of these meethigs 
induced the preachers to appoint others in differ- 
ent localities, to which the people flocked by thou- 
sands. The Cane Ridge camp-meeting v^as a season 
of extraordinary power. **Here a vast concourse of 
people assembled under the foliage of the trees, and 
continued their religious exercises day and night. 
This novel way of worshipping God excited great 
attention. In the night the grove was illuminated 
with lighted candles, lamps, or torches. This, to- 
gether with the stillness of the night, the solemnity 
which rested on every countenance, the pointed and 
earnest manner with which the preachers exhorted 
the people to repentance, prayer, and faith, produced 
the most awful sensations in the minds of all present. 
While some were exhorting, others crying for mercy, 
and some shouting the praises of God, in the assem- 
bly, numbers were retired in secluded places in the 
grove, pouring out the desire of their wounded spirits 
in earnest prayer. It often happened that these were 
liberated from their sins, and their hearts filled with 
joy and gladness while thus engaged in their solitary 
devotions ; and then they would come into the en- 
campment and declare what God had done for their 
souls. This information, communicated to their 
35* 



124 ' MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

brethr4> iii ^^^ artless simplicity of ** new-born 
souls/ would produce a thrill of joy which could 
hardy be suppressed; and thus they reciprocated 
wifii each other in their sorrows and joys, and ex- 
cised one another to the exercise of faith in the, pro- 
mise of God, and to perseverance in the good work." 
Another great meeting was held on Desha's Creek, 
near the Cumberland river. Among the many thou- 
sands that attended this meeting, a great many fell 
before the power of the truth, and were happily con- 
verted. John McGee, w^ho was present, says the 
people fell *'like corn before a storm of wind," and 
that scores who were thus slain, ** arose from the 
dust with divine glory beaming upon their counte- 
nances," and burst forth in such strains of praise to 
God as made the hearts of sinners, who looked on, 
to quake with fear. But no sooner were their first 
ecstasies over than these young converts began to 
exhort their friends and neighbors to turn to the Lord 
and live. "It was difficult to resist the power of 
their words, for they spoke of what they felt, and 
their words were sharper than a * two-edged sword,' 
piercing the heart, and extorting the cry, * What 
shall I do to be saved?'" 

It cannot be supposed that this great work of 
grace went on without opposition from the world 
and the devil. , The sons of Belial gathered with 
the sons of God. "Some would scoff, others would 
philosophize, and the latter would dogmatize in no 
stinted terms of religious intolerance," while they 
gazed upon these wonderful works of God. But to 
all objectors there was one argument perfectly irre- 



IN VIRGINU. 425 

sistible. Often the most violent opponents of whal 
they called "wild fire," would be swept by the flame, 
their hearts melted, and *^ falling down on their faces, 
they would worship God, and report that God was 
with them of a truth. '^ In many instances *' blas- 
phemers and mockers, persecutors, and bigoted dog- 
matizers, were not only struck dumb, but the * tongue 
of the dumb was made to sing,' and these fierce op^ 
posers of the work stood forth as its boldest cham- 
pions." Meanwhile the congregations at these 
meetings constantly increased. Public curiosity was 
excited to the highest pitch j the newspapers of the 
day were filled with accounts of the strange and 
awful scenes witnessed in the primeval forests of the 
West. Some came to be religiously benefited, 
others out of mere curiosity, and many to furnish 
themselves with arguments against what seemed to 
them the wildest fanaticism. 

In Kentucky, in 1801, the numbers that attended 
were immense. According to the density or sparse- 
ness of the population in the sections where they were 
held, the multitudes ranged from three to twenty 
thousand. At one held on Cabin Creek, there were 
at least twenty thousand persons on the ground. At 
this great feast of tabernacles the Methodists and 
Presbyterians heartily joined in the work of saving 
souls. The scenes are described as impressive and 
awful in the highest degree. " Few, if any," says 
an eye witness, *' escaped without being affected. 
Such as tried to run from it were frequently struck 
on the way, or impelled by some alarming signal to 
retux^n. !N"o ckcumstance at this meeting appeared 



IBS MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

more striking than the great nunibers that fell on the 
third night ; and to prevent their being trodden undei 
foot by the muhitude, they were collected togethei 
and laid out in order, on one or two squares of the 
meeting house, till a considerable part of the floor 
was covered. But the great meeting at Cane Ridge 
exceeded all. The number that fell at this meeting 
was reckoned at about three thousand, among whom 
were several Presbyterian ministers, who, according 
to their own confession, had hitherto possessed only 
a speculative knowledge of religion. Here the formal 
professor, the deist, the intemperate, met with one 
common lot, and confessed w^ith equal candor that 
they were destitute of the true knowledge of God 
and strangers to the religion of Jesus Christ." 

It was naturally impossible for the voice of one 
speaker to reach the whole of the vast concourse of 
people in the forests ; it was therefore customary to 
divide them into groups, and these were addressed by 
several preachers at the same time. At these great 
meetings there was everything to raise the emotions 
of the morally sublime in the soul, especially at night. 
<* The range of the tents — the fires reflecting light 
through the branches of the trees — the candles and 
lamps illuminating the entire encampments — hun- 
dreds of immortal beings moving to and fro — some 
preaching — some praying for mercy — others praising 
God from a sense of his pardoning mercy — all these 
presented a scene indescribably awful and afiecting." 
The light and the stout-hearted were alike arrested 
and overpowered in the midst of the thrilling scenes, 
and in oft repeated instances those who came to scofi: 



IN VIRGINIA. 427 

remained to pray. One illustration must suffice out 
of many that might be given : 

** A gentleman and lady of some standing in the 
gay circle of life, attended the above meeting with a 
view to divert themselves at the expense of those 
whom they considered as deluded with a strange in- 
fatuation. With these thoughts they agreed that if 
one of them should fall the other should not fly. 
They had not been long on the ground before the 
lady fell. The merry gentleman, untrue to his pro- 
mise, and frightened at the sight of his female friend 
on the ground, fled with great precipitancy. He had 
not gone more than two hundred yards, before he 
also was prostrate on the ground, and was soon sur- 
rounded by a praying multitude." 

Among the most efficient Methodist preachers at 
these Western camp meeting was William McKen- 
dree. ** It is said that while he held up before the 
people the truths of the gospel, intermingled with 
narrations of the work of God at these meetings, 
his whole soul seemed to be filled with * glory and 
with God,' and that his very countenance beamed 
with brightness." He was aided by a noble band of 
itinerants, among whom we may record the names 
of William Burke, John Sale, Benjamin Lakin, and 
Henry Smith, men who gave themselves to the work 
of Christ with a zeal worthy of apostolic days. 

Soon after the rise of camp-meetings appeared that 
singular affisction known as the Jerks. One of the 
most interesting accounts of this exercise has been 
urnished by Rev. Jacob Young in his autobiography. 

** In 1804 I first witnessed that strange exercise, 



428 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the jerks, although I had heard much of it before. 
It took subjects from all denominations and all classes 
of society, even the wicked ; but it prevailed chiefly 
among the Presbyterians. I will give some instances. 
** A Mr. Doke, a Presbyterian clergyman of high 
standing, having charge of a congregation in Jorie^- 
borough, was the first man of eminence in tbis region 
that came under its influence. Often it would seize 
him in the pulpit with so much severity, that a spec- 
tator might fear it would dislocate his neck and joints. 
He would laugb, stand and halloo at the top of his 
voice, finally leap from the pulpit, and ran to the 
woods, screaming like a madman. When the exer- 
cise was over, he would return to the church calm 
and rational as ever. Sometimes at hotels this aflec- 
tion would visit persons, causing them, for example, 
in the very act of raising the glass to their lips, to 
jerk and throw the liquid to the ceiling, much to the 
merriment of some, and the alarm of others. I have 
often seen ladies take it at the breakfast table ; as 
they were pouring out tea or coffee they would throw 
the contents toward the ceiling, and sometimes break 
the cup and saucer. Then hastening from the table, 
their long suits of braided hair hanging down their 
back would crack like a whip. For a time the jerks 
was a topic of conversation— public and private — both 
in the church and out. Various opinions were ex- 
pressed concerning it, some ascribing it to the devil, 
others- to an opposite source ; some striving against 
it, others courting it as the power of God unto sal- 
vation. In many cases its consequences were disas- 
trous, in some fatal. 



IN VIRGINIA. 429 

A preacher, who was in early life a dancing-mas- 
ter, joined the Conference, and was sent to a circuit 
where the jerks greatly prevailed. He declared it 
was of the devil, and that he would preach it out of 
the Methodist Church. He commenced the work 
with great zeal and high expectations ; but before he 
had got once round, he took the jerks himself, or 
rather the jerks took him. When the fit began he 
would say, *Ah yes! nop At every jerk he 
used his hands and arms as if he was playing the vio- 
lin. One morning, being seized as he was going to 
his appointment, he let go the bridle and the horse 
ran off till he was stopped by a gate. The rider, 
having dismounted, in order to steady himself, laid 
hold of the palings of the fence, which unfortunately 
gave way ; the lady of the house coming to the door 
to see what was the matter, heightened his mortification. 
Attempting to hide himself by running into the orchard 
his strange movement, as he ran fiddling along, and 
the tail of his long gown flying in the wind, attracted the 
attention of the hounds, the whole pack of which pur- 
sued him with hideous yells. Being afraid of dogs he 
turned and rushed into the house by the back door, 
and running up stairs jumped into a bed, where he 
lay till the fit was over. 

His proud heart would not submit and the disease, 
as he termed it, growing worse and worse, he gave 
up the circuit and withdrew into retirement, where his 
sun went down under a cloud. 

Usually, the subjects of this strange affection were 
happy when they had it, and happy when it passed off, 
and it did them no harm. The wise ones of the day, 



430 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

sucli as "William McKendree and Thomas Wilkerson, 
said little about it, but preached, exhorted and prayed 
as if it was not in the country. 

At the close of the year, I attended a Camp-meet- 
ing at Carter's Station, where about ten thousand 
people were assembled. Here a controversy had been 
going on between Presbyterians and Methodists, the 
former saying, among other bitter things, that the 
latter were hypocrites and could refrain from shouting 
if they would. They were the aristocracy, we the 
poor. On Monday morning I preached, preceded by 
the venerable Vanpelt ; who left the congregation 
calmly and silently weeping. I arose — like most men 
who know nothing- — fearing nothing, and undertook 
to account for the Jerks. The preachers looked 
frightened and the audience astonished. I viewed it 
as a judgment of God. Taking a compendious view 
of the nations, I showed that God was just, as well 
as merciful, and his judgments though long delayed, 
sure to come. I adverted to the wickedness of the 
people, enlarging on their intolerance and bigotry, 
charging that Middle Tennessee had gone as far as 
any part of the United States in these particulars. I 
glanced at the rise of Methodism and the persecutions 
it had endured, and quoted the taunting language of 
its enemies : * Ye are hypocrites and can cease shout- 
ing if ye will.' After a pause, I exclaimed at the top 
of my voice, ' Do you leave off jerking if you can V 

It was estimated that instantly more than five hun- 
dred persons commenced jumping, shouting and jerk- 
ing. There was no more preaching that day." 

We give another and fuller account furnished by 



IN VIRGINIA. 431 

Rev. Barton W. Stone, a prominent minister of the 
Presbyterian Church, and a witness of many of* the 
scenes he describes: 

** The bodily agitations or exercises attending the 
excitement in the beginning of this century were 
various, and called by various names, as the falliog 
exercise, the jerks, the dancing exercise, the barking" 
exercise, the laughing and singing exercises, and so 
on. The falling exercise was very common among 
all classes, the saints and sinners of every age and 
grade, from the philosopher to the clown. The sub- 
jects of this exercise would generally, with a piercing 
scream, fall like a log on the floor or earth, and 
appear as dead. Of thousands of similar cases, I 
will mention one: At a meeting two gay young 
ladies, sisters, were standing together, attending the 
exercises and preaching at the same time, when in- 
stantly they both fell with a shriek of distress, and 
lay for more than an hour apparently in a lifeless 
state. Their mother, a pious Baptist, was in great 
distress, fearing they would not survive. At length 
they began to exhibit sign^ of life, by crying fervently 
for mercy, and then relapsed into the same death-like 
state, with an awful gloom on their countenances; 
after a while the gloom on the face of one was suc- 
ceeded by a heavenly smile, and she cried out, ' Pre- 
cious Jesus !' and spoke of the glory of the gospel 
to the surrounding crowd in language almost super- 
human, and exhorted all to repentance. . In a little 
while after, the other sister was similarly exercised. 
From that time they became remarkably pious mem- 
bers of the Church. 
36 



432 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

<'I have seen very many pious persons fall in the 
same way, from a sense of the clanger of their un- 
converted children, brothers, or sisters, or from a 
sense of the danger of their neighbors in a sinful 
world. I have heard them agonizing in tears, and 
strongly crying for mercy to be shown to sinners, 
and speaking like angels all around. " 

"The jerks cannot be so easily described. Some- 
times the subject of the jerks would be affected in 
some one member of the body, and sometimes in the 
whole system. When the head alone was affected, 
it would be jerked backward or forward, or from 
side to side, so quickly that the features of the face 
could not be distingaished. When the whole system 
was affected, I have seen the person stand in one 
place, and jerk backward and forward in qalck sac- 
cession, the head nearly touching the floor behind 
and before. All classes, saints and sinners, the 
strong as well as the w^eak, were thus affected. I 
have enquired of those thus affected if they could not 
account for it, but some have told me that those were 
among the happiest seasons of their lives. I have 
seen some wicked persons thus affected, and all the 
time cursing the jerks, while they were thrown to 
the earth with violence. 

Though so awfal to behold, I do not remember 
that any one of the thousands I have seen thus af- 
fected ever sustained any bodily injury. This was 
as strange as the exercise itself. 

The dancing exercise - generally began with the 
jerks, and was peculiar to professors of religion. 
The subject, after jerking a while, began to dance, 



IN VIRGINIA. 433 

and then the jerks would cease. Such dancing was 
indeed heavenly to the spectators. There was noth- 
ing in it like levity, nor calculated to excite levity in 
the beholders. The smile of heaven shone on the 
countenance of the subject, and assimilated to angels 
appeared the whole person. Sometimes the motion 
was quick, and sometimes slow. Thus they contin- 
ued to move forward and backward in the same track 
or alley till nature seemed exhausted, and they would 
fall prostrate on the floor or earth, unless caught by 
those standing by. While thus exercised, I have 
heard their solemn praises and prayers ascend to God. 

"The barking exercise, as opposers contemptu- 
ously called it, was nothing but the jerks. A person 
thus affected, especially in his head, would often make 
a grunt or bark, from the suddenness of the jerk. 
This name of barking seems to have had its origin 
from an old Presbyterian preacher of East Tennessee. 
He had gone into the woods for private devotion, and 
was slezed with the jerks. Standing near a sapling, 
he caught hold of it to prevent his falling ; and, as 
his head jerked back, he uttered a grunt, or a kind 
of noise similar to a bark, his face being turned 
upward. Some wag discovered him in this position, 
and reported that he had found the old preacher 
barking up a tree. 

**The laughing exercise was frequent, — confined 
solely to the religious. It was a loud, hearty laugh- 
ter, but it excited laughter in none that saw it. The 
subject appeared rapturously solemn, and his laughter 
produced solemnity in saints and sinners ; it was truly 
indescribable. . 



434 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The running exercise was nothing more than that 
persons feehng something of these hodily agitations, 
through fear, attempted to run away, and thus escape 
from them, but it commonly happened that they ran 
not far before they fell, when they became so agitated 
they could not proceed any farther. 

*^ I knew a young physician, of a celebrated family, 
who came some distance to a big meeting to see the 
strange things he had heard of. He and a young 
lady had sportively agreed to watch over and take 
care of each other, if either should fall. At length 
the physician felt something very uncommon, and 
started from the congregation to run to the woods. 
He was discovered running as for life, but did not 
proceed far until he fell down, and there lay until he 
submitted to the Lord, and afterwards became a 
zealous member of the Church. Such cases were 
common. 

*^The singing exercise is more unaccountable than 
anything else I ever saw. The subject, in a very 
happy state of mind, would sing most melodiously, 
not from the mouth or nose, but entirely in the 
breast, the sounds issuing thence. Such noise silenced 
everything, and attracted the attention of all. It 
was most heavenly; none could ever tire of hear- 
ing it. 

**Thus have I given," says Mr. Stone, ** a brief 
account of the wonderful things that appeared in the 
great excitement in the beginning of this century. 
That there were many eccentricities and much fanati- 
cism in this excitement was acknowledged by its 
warmest advocates. Indeed, it would have been a 



IN VIRGINIA. 435 

wouder if such things had not appeared in the cir- 
cumstances of that time. Yet the good effects were 
seen and acknowledged in every neighborhood, and 
among the different sects. It silenced contention 
and promoted unity for a while." 

The Rev. Joseph Travis gives his observations on 
some of these exercises on his first circuit in South 
Carolina: 

'*Iwas not a little concerned in witnessing the 
jerks and dancing exercise. To see persons tumbling 
down and jerking hard enough, I thought, to dislo- 
cate the joints ; women's combs flying in every direc- 
tion, and their hair popping almost as loud as wagon 
whips ; I knew not what to think of it. I had never 
before seen the like. I can never forget one Sabbath, 
standing on a floor to preach ; a pious, upright man, 
the class-leader, was standing close by me; and while we 
were repeating and singing the first hymn, he was 
taken with the jerks, knocked the hymn-book out of 
my hand and gave my unfortunate nose a hard rap. 
It was some time before I could recover from my con- 
sternation and pain; and in spite of myself an associa- 
tion of ideas intruded upon me something like this : 
that if the jerks were from God he would not wish 
me to preach to that congregation under such mal- 
treatment inflicted on me by the jerks." 

He soon recovered however, and preached as if 
nothing had happened. He found that such exer- 
cises were much more prevalent with weak-minded 
and nervous professors, than with those of well-culti- 
vated minds and healthy bodies. The jerks were 
'irincipally confined to the "Western country. We be- 
36* 



436 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

lieve that very rarely, if at all, did it occur at the nu- 
merous camp-meetings which were held iu Virginia. 

A fresh impulse was given to the work by the 
Camp-meeting already referred to in Brunswick. 
Another was held in the same county, in the course 
of the summer, at a meeting-house called the "Barn;' 
here there was a signal outpouring of the Spirit, and 
at the close of the meeting the Church rejoiced over 
one hundred converts. The revival now began to 
spread in every direction through the State. ''Under 
date of this year, Jesse Lee writes: ** There was 
a very great in-gathering of precious souls in Vir- 
ginia." 

At Harrisonburg, in Kockingham, there was a 
good work in which thirty souls were gathered into 
the Church ; at Shepherdstown there was a gracious 
visitation. At Leesburg, during a Quarterly Meet^ 
ing there was a most refreshing season j so great was 
the concern among the people, that the preachers 
** went from house to house to talk to the distressed, 
and to sing and pray with them." One of the meet- 
ings lasted sixteen hours without intermission, ** in 
which time fifteen souls were converted." In Win- 
chester circuit, at a Quarterly Meeting, which was 
held for four days as a sort of Camp-meeting, "the 
Lord was eminently present," and about fifty were 
converted. In the village of Front Royal the work 
broke out and many souls were brought to God. 
These are but partial indications of the glorious 
work which swept over the whole field of Metho- 
dism. 

As Camp-meetings became highly popular in Vir- 



IN VIRGINIA. 437 

ginia from the time of their introduction, and were 
held with great success all over the State, it may be 
interesting to the reader to look on the picture of a 
Camp-meeting in the olden time, drawn by Jesse 
Lee. 

** 1. With regard to the laying out of the ground; 
we have two, three, or four acres of land cleared of 
the undergrowth, in an oblong square sufficient to 
hold as many tents as will be erected. "We have then 
the fronts of the tents on a line on each side, and at 
each end. Back of the tents we have a place cleared 
for the carriages to stand, whether they be wagons, 
carts, or riding carriages; so that every tent may 
have the carriage belonging to it in a convenient po- 
sition. Just back of the carriages we have the 
horses tied and fed. Before the tents we generally 
have the fires for cooking, and to help in giving light 
at night to those who are walking about. But when 
it is not convenient to have the fire in front of the 
tent, it is placed behind it. 

*^ 2. We have one or two stages erected; if we have 
two, one is near the one end of the ground, and the 
other near the opposite end ; but both within the lines 
whereon the tents are fixed. At each stage we have 
a sufficient number of seats to contain the principal 
part of the attentive hearers, who are requested to sit 
according to our form, the men on one side and the 
women on the other. The stages are placed at such 
a distance from each other, that if necessity should 
require it, we might preach at each stage at the same 
time. Or in case there should be a great degree of 
life and power among the people at one stage, we 



438 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

might, Without interrupting their devotion in singing 
and praying, withdraw to the other stage and preach 
to as many as might wish to hear. 

**3. We have the ground within the tents illumi- 
nated at night by candles which we ^ to the stage, 
the trees, and other places prepared for the purpose. 
These candles with the light of the fires, keep the 
whole ground sufl3.ciently illuminated. On some oc- 
casions, I have seen at these meetings as many as one 
hundred ^nd twenty candles burning at the same 
time. These lights io a dark night, when the 
evening is calm, add greatly to the solemnity of the 
meeting. 

'* 4. We generally appoint a guard, or watch, of a 
sufficient number of men, and request them by turn 
to walk all night through and around the encamp- 
ment, to prevent disorderly persons from doing mis- 
chief, either in disturbing the people, or their property. 

** 5. We proceed in our religious exercises as fol- 
lows: soon after the first dawn of day, a person 
walks all round the ground, in front of the tents, 
blowing a trumpet as he passes, which is to give the 
the people notice to rise ; about ten minutes after, 
the trumpet is blown again with only one long blast, 
upon which the people in all their tents begin to sing 
and pray, either in their tents or at the doors of them 
as is most convenient. At the rising of the sun 
a sermon is preached, after which we eat breakfast. 
We have preaching again at ten o'clock, and dine 
about one. We preach again at three o'clock, eat 
supper about the setting of the sun, and have preach- 
ing again at candle-light." 



IN VIRGINIA. 439 



CHAPTER XII. 

Asbury's plans for aiding worn-out preachers — His travels in Vir- 
ginia — Conference of 1804 — William Ormond — Nathan Jarratt — 
Action on the slavery question — Petition of the Virginia Con- 
ference on the subject. Fourth General Conference — Measures 
adopted — Revivals in Virginia — Methodism in Lynchburg — Ap- 
pearance of Lorenzo Dow in the State — Sketch of his life — Re- 
vival in Winchester and adjacent circuits. Rev. Mr. Crum — "I 
must be converted in Dutch," • 

THE Yirginia Conference for 1804 was appointed 
at Salem Chapel, Mecklenburg county, on the 
10th of April. Asbury reached the limits of the 
State about the middle of May, on his way from the 
South. His health was feeble, but his labors were 
incessant. At E'orfolk and Portsmouth he preached 
with freedom and effect. At the former place, *« at a 
meeting of the women," he writes, "we laid the 
foundation of a female charitable society of Norfolk; 
similar in plan to those of 'Rew York and Baltimore, 
but more liberal ; may this live, grow and flourish 
when I am cold and forgotten." 

The object of these societies, the plan of which ap- 
pears to have been suggested by Asbury, was to aid 
in raising funds for the support of the deficient and 
worn-out preachers. In an address of the President 
and Directors of this Korfolk society to the Confer- 
ence of 1820, they say : *<W"e very highly esteem 



440 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

that part of the economy of the Church, which 
makes a large portion of her ministers missionaries, 
and for their hetter support entered with delight and 
ardor into the formation and management of the af- 
fairs of this Society." 

It appears that there was a sort of parent society 
at Norfolk with branches in the adjacent counties or 
circuits, for in the Treasurer's report we find entries of 
accounts received from Princess Ann, Camden, Bertie, 
Suffolk, Sussex, and Columbia, Societies, besides 
subscriptions from persons residing in other places. 
These auxiliaries sent their reports to the parent so- 
ciety near the close of the year, and a general report 
was then prepared by the Treasurer for the Annual Con- 
ference. 

From l^orfolk, Asbury travelled along toward the 
seat of the Conference, preaching along the whole 
route. We give a few extracts from his journal. 
** I preached at a new meeting-house fourteen miles 
up the road towards Suffolk ; here, after thirty years' 
labor, fir^t and last, we have a chapel ; I named it 
Ebenezer. At Suffolk on Tuesday, unwell as I was, 
labor went hard with me ; I had an almost total ob- 
struction of perspiration, but a pulpit sweat relieved 
me in a good degree. My soul is calm. Wednesday, 
28th of April, I preached at Powell's Chapel ; on 
Thursday, at Benn's Chapel, Isle of Wight, we had 
a decent but not a feeling congregation. After 
preaching I rode up to William Blunt's. On Good 
Friday, so called, I preached at Blunt's, and admin- 
istered the sacrament. I rode to Joseph Moody's. 
We drew the plan of a new house, forty by thirty 



IN VIRGINIA. 441 

feet, two stories high, but will it ever be built ? I 
doubt it. On Sabbath I preached in an old aban- 
doned Episcopal church in Southampton. Wednes- 
day, May 4th, I preached at Mabry's Chapel, made 
anew ; now sixty by twenty-five feet. I was a 
preacher here before the first house was built, thirty 
years ago ; first an addition was made, now it is re- 
built in another form and a gallery added for the 
blacks. I rode home in the rain with Peter Pelham ; 
here is death temporal and life spiritual. Thomas 
Pelham was converted, and is dead since my last visit, 
and there remain three living children, new born 
babes." On Sunday the 8th he was in Brunswick : 
** I am taking leave of the people every visit," he 
writes, **I have made up one thousand miles from 
A^ugusta, Georgia, to Brunswick county, Virginia. 
In old Virginia I have administered the word thirty 
years. There is a great mortality among the aged ; 
our old members drop off surprisingly, but they all, 
by account, die in the Lord, and in general, trium- 
phantly. N"ow I have finished my awful tour of duty 
for the past month. To ride twenty and thirty miles 
a day ; to preach, baptize, and administer the Lord's 
Supper ; to write and answer letters, and plan for 
myself and four hundred preachers — Lord, I have 
not desired this awful day thou knowest. I refused 
to travel as long as I could, and I lived long before 
I took upon me the Superintendency of the Metho- 
dist Church in America, and now I bear it as a heavy 
load ; I hardly bear it, and yet dare not cast it down, 
for fear God and my brethren should cast me down 
for such an abandonment of dutv. True it is. 



442 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

my wages are great — precious souls here, and glory 
hereafter." 

The Yirgiiiia Conference for 1804 began at Salem, 
Mecklenburg county, on the 10th of April. 

** The following persons were presented, recom- 
mended, and admitted without any debate on their 
cases ; 

** Joseph Tarpley, Daniel Kelly, William Barnes, 
Thomas Shands, Isaac Hall, Archibald Alexander, 
David McMaster, William Owen, "William Blair, 
James Boyd, James Jennings, Enoch Jones, and Ira 
Ellis. George Dillard was proposed, but not recom- 
mended in order from the Quarterly Meeting ; how- 
ever, upon the verbal recommendation of some mem- 
bers of Conference, and on condition that Jesse Lee, 
or the presiding elder of the District, shall bring to 
the next Annual Conference his recommendation in 
form, he is now admitted, and his name to be pub- 
lished in the Minutes." We find rather a curious 
specimen of Conference action recorded in the jour- 
nal of this session. 

* ' Jonathan Jackson had a complaint lodged against 
him of carrying a petition, with several signatures, 
to the General Conference, praying an alteration of 
something in the form of Discipline. The Confer- 
ence took the matter under consideration, and after 
a very lengthy conversation on the subject, it was pro- 
posed to separate a vote that was moved, in order to 
k:eep distinct the person carrying the said petition from 
the matter of the^same. It was moved that those 
who disapproved of the form in which he obtained 
signatures should rise ; thirteen rose. It was then 



IN VIRGINIA. 443 

reversed, and one voted in approbation ; several, 
however, did not wish to vote on the occasion, and 
when the numbers of the passive members were 
counted, they amounted to seventeen. It was next 
moved to vote on the matter or contents of the peti- 
tion. Five condemned the contents of said petition, 
three approved of them, and twenty-three voted to be 
passive on them." 

The deficiencies of the preachers were reported at 
$^60,00; to meet their wants the following sums 
were in hand : 

**By the circuits, 

** Peter Pelham's gift, 

** Green Hill's legacy, 

" Chartered Fund, 

'* Marriage money, 

*^ Private gifts, 

$34-5 26 
^* After paying all just claims on the Conference, 
there remained on hand $85.26, which, by a vote of 
the Conference, was equally divided among the 
preachers going to the General Conference, to bear 
their expenses. The following are the persons : 
Philip Bruce, Jesse Lee, Jonathan Jackson, Daniel 
Hall, Samuel Risher, Joseph Moore, Christopher S. 
Mooring, Joseph Pinnell, Humphrey Wood, Alexan- 
der McCain, William Allgood, Josiah Philips, Jesse 
Coe, John Cox, John Gamewell, Daniel Eoss, and 
John Buxton." 

"Joseph Moore and Philip Bruce, only survivors 
of the committee appointed by the last Conference to 
37 



$161 93 


10 


00 


58 


33 


100 


00 


3 


00 


12 


00 



444 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

prepare a Remonstrance and Petition, prepared and 
brought before this Conference said petition, which, 
on being read, with the alteration of three words, 
was adopted by this, and sent to the General Con- 
ference." 

The Conference * * recommended the sitting of the 
next Conference to continue six days." Of this ses- 
sion Asbury writes: ** We sat six hours a day, and 
wrought with great application. "We had an addition 
of fifteen preachers, besides two dead, seven located, 
one expelled ; so there was a gain of eight. I liked 
what was done ; only, the preachers^ experience, the 
state of the work, and the circuits were not given ; 
so we concluded to recommend a session of six days 
for the next yearly Conference. What I have felt, 
was only known to the Lord ; what I have done, was 
for God and his Church. We have added, after 
great mortality, one thousand members to the Virginia 
Conference bounds." 

The membership was reported at 13,382 whites 
and 3,757 colored. There were thirty-four appoint- 
ments within the circuits of the Conference, supplied 
by forty-nine preachers. Two faithful laborers had 
fallen, William Ormond and ITathan Jarratt. 

Ormond was a native of Korth Carolina, and had 
been in the ministry twelve years. **He was quick 
in body and in mind, but was affectionate, fervent and 
faithful ; he was gracious and giftful, a good man 
and a good preacher. He had a high sense of the 
rights of men, of Christians, and of Christian min- 
isters, but was open to information when candidly 
and mildly addressed." While stationed at Norfolk 



IN VIRGINIA. 445 

in 1803, the yellow fever broke out, but be stood 
bravely at bis post. In the midst of the epidemic 
he wrote to a friend: **I expect to continue upon 
my station, for it appears I cannot well leave it at 
this time. I may as well die with the fever as with 
any other affliction, and there is as direct a passage 
from Korfolk to heaven as from any other port on the 
globe. I shall leave no widow to weep over my life- 
less body, and no babes to mourn for a father, and I 
find this world is a dangerous and troublesome place." 

These are the words of a true soldier of the cross. 
He was soon called to the last trial of his faith. He 
was summoned to attend an important church trial 
in Brunswick, and left Norfolk with the fatal infec- 
tion already lodged in his system. On his return to 
his charge he was taken extremely ill, and in a few 
days gave up his labors with his life. He died happy 
in God, shouting with his latest breath, *' Peace, 
peace, victory, victory, complete victory." 

Jarratt was also a native of Korth Carolina. His 
career was brief but brilliant ; four years only did 
he work in the vineyard. *^He was a man of great 
zeal, a pleasing voice, amiable in his manners and 
much beloved." His loss was deeply lamented by 
the Conference. His death was joyful and triumph- 
ant. **The nighl^before he departed, after lying in 
an apparent state of insensibility for some time, he 
broke out in a rapture of joy, and sung the following 
lines ; 

* Arise and shine, O Zion fair, 

Behold thy light is come ; 
The glorious conquering King is nigh, 

To take his exiles home.' 



446 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

And then in a few moments sweetly slept in Jesus," 
We have seen that this Conference prepared and 
sent to the General Conference a petition on the sub- 
jedt of slavery. As this petition has not been pre- 
served, we have no means of knowing precisely what 
change was desired in the rules on this troublesome 
question. By comparing the slavery action of the 
General Conference of 1800, with that of the present 
year, (1804,) we feel assured that the petition se- 
cured an important modification of the stringent 
regulations which had produced much dissatisfaction 
in the South. At the former General Conference, 
William Ormond had moved a number of alterations 
with the view of allowing members of the Church, 
in certain contingencies, to buy and sell slaves, mainly 
for the purpose of preventing, in cases of removal 
from one State to another, the separation of husbands 
and wives. This was doubtless one of the points 
embraced in the petition ; for at this General Con- 
ference the clause in the rule of 1796, which required 
any member who sold a slave to be * immediately 
expelled," was so amended as to read: ** Every 
member of the Society who sells a slave, except at 
the request of the slave, in cases of mercy and hu- 
manity, agreeably to the judgment of a commitee of 
tlie male members of the Society^appointed by the 
preacher who has charge of the circuit or station, 
shall immediately, after full proof, be excluded from 
the Society." 

It is fair to presume that the petition bore on 
another important point. By the rules of 1800, "the 
A;inual Conferences were directed to draw up ad- 



IN VIRGINIA. 447 

dresses for the gradual emancipation of the slaves, 
to the Legislatures of those States in which no gen- 
eral laws had been passed for that purpose." The 
whole of this section was stricken out, and also para- 
graph ]^o. 4, of 1796,which requested "the preachers 
and other members to consider the subject of negro 
slavery with deep attention," &c. At the close of 
the slavery rules adopted at this General Conference, 
we have the following clause : 

" i^evertheless, the members of our Societies in 
the States of Korth Carolina, South Carolina, and 
Georgia shall be exempted from the operation of the 
above rules." This shows how distasteful the action 
of the Church on this subject was to a vast majority 
of the members in the South. It is mortifying to 
think that the fathers of the Church should have 
placed themselves in so awkward a position by in- 
termeddling with a question lying wholly beyond 
the range of ecclesiastical legislation. 

The General Conference w^hich met on the 7th of 
May at Baltimore, adopted a number of new rules 
for the government of the Church : 

^* The Bishops shall not allow any preacher to re- 
main in the same circuit or station more than two 
years successively, excepting the Presiding El- 
ders, supernumeraries, superannuated and worn-out 
preachers." 

**In some cases,' says Jesse Lee, in reference to 
this rule, ** prior to this the Bishop had appointed a 
preacher, or preachers to the same place for three 
years together. We now determined on a better plan 
and formed this rule, to prevent any preacher from 
37* 



448 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

wishing or expecting such an appointment in the 
future." 

The following was adopted in reference to the 
President of an Annual Conference in the absence of 
a Bishop: 

"In case there are two or more Presiding Elders 
belonging to one Conference, the Bishop or Bishops 
may by letter or otherwise appoint the President, 
but if no appointment be made, the Conference shall 
elect the President from among the Presiding Elders 
by ballot, without debate." 

It was ordered that the assembly of the official 
members at Quarterly Meeting, be called '* The 
Quarterly Meeting Conference." 

The following regulation was also made : 

" The Presiding Elder shall not employ a preacher 
who has been rejected at the preceding Annual Con- 
ference, unless the Conference give him liberty under 
certain conditions." 

The rule against members who married out of the 
Society was made less stringent. Before this Con- 
ference the penalty was expulsion ; they were now to 
be put back on trial for six months. 

The year 1804 was fruitful of revivals in Virginia. 

In many parts of the State the work was very great. 
The Churches were alive with holy zeal, and the fire 
of love kindled from heart to heart. In the Valley 
of Virginia, and in some of the western counties, 
great numbers were gathered into the fold of Meth- 
odism. 

The Quarterly Meetings were seasons of special in- 
terest: vast congregations attended, and many persons 



IN VIRGINIA. 449 

came from a distance of forty or fifty miles. At one 
of these meetings, held at Little Levels, in Green- 
brier, not less than one hundred souls were converted 
in the space of six days. But the Camp-meetings, 
which now became frequent, were marked by the 
most extraordinary displays of Divine power. During 
the Summer and Autumn thousands were brought to 
to God at these great gatherings of the saints. In 
the counties of Botetourt and Greenbrier alone, more 
than five hundred were converted at the different 
Camp-meetings. In the latter part of the Sum- 
mer a meeting of this kind was held near the town 
of Sufi'olk, where the saving power of God was felt 
in a wonderful manner. The meeting was conducted 
by the Presiding Elder, Daniel Hall, assisted by a 
number of zealous and powerful preachers, both trav- 
elling and local. The exercises lasted but four days, 
and within that time nearly four hundred persons 
were converted. 

**The accounts from that meeting," says Jesse Lee, 
** appear to be incredible to those who were not 
present ; but those who were eye and ear-witnesses, 
think it too great to be sufficiently described." 

Among the converts were many who became burn- 
ing and shining lights in the world. The Aliens, 
Yarboroughs, and Woodleys, families honored in the 
annals of Methodism, w^ere enrolled at this meet- 
ing, besides many others whose memories are as oint- 
ment poured forth. The flame kindled here, rapidly 
spread to the surrounding circuits, and hundreds of 
happy converts in Il^orfolk, Portsmouth, Princess 



450 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Anne, Isle of Wight, and other places, crowded the 
gates of Zion. 

Under the labors of Stith Mead and other preach- 
ers, the work greatly revived in Bedford, Campbell, 
Amherst and other counties in that portion of the 
State. Within six months at the various Camp and 
Quarterly Meetings conducted chiefly by this faithful 
man, nearly twelve hundred persons were converted, 
and eight hundred and fifty added to the Church. 

We fi.nd some interesting details of this great revi- 
val in a letter from William Heath to Ezekiel Cooper 
dated, — 

Lynchburg, July 24th, 1804. 

**To you I suppose it will be a matter of joy to 
hear of the prosperity of Zion in these parts of the 
Lord's vineyard. 

*'The Camp Meetings which have been usual in the 
South and West for some years never began with us 
until last Spring. 

" On the 23d of March a Camp-Meeting was 
held by Lorenzo Dow, in conjunction with a num- 
ber of other preachers and ministers, at which 
fifty souls professed to find peace with God ; from 
this the work of God spread in almost every direction. 
At the several meetings which were held at Flat 
Creek Meeting House, by the 16th of April, twenty- 
four souls professed converting grace ; - and the work 
has continued to be more rapid at that place ever since ; 
40 have joined the Church there, and sixteen in the 
neighborhood above have professed conversion and 
planted a Society among us. In the town and vicin- 



IN YIRGINIA. 461 

ity, from the beginning of the work in April, until 
now, from six to twelve and sixteen, at a meeting, 
have professed to find the pearl of great price ; so 
that from a class of twenty members, we have now 
160. Bless the Lord, my soul ! and let the people 
magnify his holy name ! 

** On the 4th of May, a meeting was appointed at 
a place fifteen miles above us, called the Tabernacle, 
to be held three days, but the work was so great that 
it was continued five days, day and night, with very 
little intermission ; in which time one hundred were 
thought to have obtained true conversion. 

'*From the 12th to the 15th of May, at a place 
called E"ew Hope, five miles from town, we had 
another meeting which also continued day and night, 
at which there were about one hundred converted, 
and many were daily added to our members. From 
the 17th to the 22nd of May, meeting again at Tab- 
ernacle, at which place the people encamped on the 
ground, and continued preaching, praying, and 
other godly exercises night and day for five days, in 
which time one hundred and fifty were converted, and 
one hundred and forty joined the Methodist Church. 

From the 8th to the 12th of June, another Camp 
Meeting was held at Charity Chapel, Powhatan, at 
which one hundred souls were converted, and sixty 
joined the Methodist Church. From the 20th to the 
24th of this month, we had a Camp Meeting in Bed- 
ford at Leftwich's meeting house, at which one hun- 
dred and ten came forward and gave testimony ot 
their faith, that God had converted their souls. 

Very many are the prayer, class, and preaching 



452 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

meetings, not mentioned here, at which the Lord 
pours out his Spirit in a wonderful manner. Consid- 
ering the low ebb of religion among us before the 
revival began, I can truly say that I never saw or read 
of greater times." 

One of the happy results of this blessed work was 
the permanent establishment of Methodism in Lynch- 
burg. Previous to this time, religion had made but 
little progress in that place. The circuit preachers 
occasionally visited the town, and held religious ser- 
vices in the Mason's Hall, but they met with little 
encouragement or success. Some of them were sub- 
jected to the taunts and railings of the ungodly, and 
were assailed in scurrilous articles in the town news- 
paper. Stith Mead, who may be called the founder 
of Methodism in Lynchburg, was soundly abused for 
no other reason, it would seem, than that he preached 
as a faithful minister of Christ against the vices of 
the place. In one article he was called a ** Proud 
Pharisee," ** a Hypocrite," "a Devil," *'an infamous 
Wretch," a *' Maniac," **a contemptible, vaporing, 
itinerant brawler," a ** greater disgrace to humanity 
than the most dissolute man in Lynchburg." 

The question was asked by the writer of this 
piece of Billingsgate : *' Pray, Mr. Mead, how do 
you know whether or not the worship of God is or is 
not regarded in Lynchburg ?" Mead replies in a ser- 
mon preached with reference to this publication, 
**My own eyes evidenced that while I have been 
preaching in this house (the Masons' Hall) on the 
Sabbath, the ^ue yard has been lined with people at that 
foolish and wicked sport, to the disgrace of those whose 



IN TIRGINIA. 45 S 

duty it is to bear the sword of Justice ; and my ears 
evidenced the oaths and blasphemies when stepping 
into the stores, and nothing said of God or religion; 
and I doubt not that men of reason, candor, and 
judgment would unite in the truth of what I have 
asserted." 

Mead was not alone in his opinion of this town. 
Lorenzo Dow writes in his journal after a visit : 
** Lynchburg was a deadly place for the worship of 
God." 

But this seat of Satan at length felt the power of 
God. Five years after the scenes described above, 
the revival of 1804 broke out, and religion gained a 
hold in Lynchburg which it has never lost. We con- 
dense an account of this gracious work from Mead's 
journal : 

** In 1804, on my way from Georgia to the Gene- 
rial Conference at Baltimore, I sent an appointment 
by Lorenzo Dow, to manage a camp-meeting in my 
native county, Bedford, and which was accordingly 
held in the month of March at Timber Ridge, at 
which fifty souls were converted. Having an ap- 
pointment also in the Mason's Hall, in Lynchburg, the 
old battle-ground, I preached and had a melting, 
solemn time. I preached also in Amherst, a short 
distance from town ; the work here was powerful, 
and sixteen were converted. I determined, as I had 
a little time to spare, to return to town and preach 
again, and in doing so in the Masons' Hall, eight 
souls were converted. I repeated the same the night 
following, and ten souls professed conversion ; and 
soon in town and country, until hundreds were 



454 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

awakened and converted, and a society of above 
one hundred members formed in Lynchburg ; and so, 
under God, I gained the victory over ray adversary 
the devil, and his agents, my spiritual adversaries," 

Among the older Methodists in Lynchburg wbo 
greatly assisted the travelling preachers in this good 
work we may mention Kev. Samuel Mitchell, Rev. 
William Peters Martin, and Rev. James Rucker, local 
preachers, and George Sullivan, William Heath, and 
other valuable and zealous lay members. The wives 
of these good men must be recorded as faithful 
mothers in our Israel, who labored day and night 
for the success of Christ's kingdom. The name oi 
Elizabeth Martin is one of the brightest on the pages 
of Methodist history in England or America. She 
was an eminent saint, and through her long, happy 
and useful life, was regarded by all who knew her as 
a Chrisfian of the greatest purity and the highest 
spiritual attainments. We reserve a more extended 
notice of her character for its appropriate place in 
the course of this narrative. 

The infant Society now bent all their energies to- 
W'ard the erection of a house of worship. Those 
who had means came forward with their money ; 
Stith Mead gave liberally himself, and worked hard 
to increase the subscriptions. Dow, in his journal, 
says : ''My friends in Lynchburg asked, 'What shall 
be done with the profits of your Chain V which they 
computed at five hundred dollars. I replied, 'I give 
the profits to build a brick chapel in Lynchburg for the 
Methodists, reserving only the privilege of preaching 
in it when not occupied by them, and whilst my con^ 



> IIN VIRGINIA. 455 

duct shall continue as unexceptionable as it is now.' " 
"Whether his conditional offer of this liberal donation 
was accepted, we do not know. The building was 
commenced in 1804 ; it was of brick, forty- six by 
thirty-six feet, and was situated on the spot so long 
honored as the site of the first Methodist Church in 
Lynchburg. The enterprise did not advance as 
rapidly as its friends had hoped. Near the close of 
the year, Thomas Wiatt, the class-leader, wrote to 
Mead, in Georgia; *^Our meeting-house progresses 
but slowly. I do not, however, yet feel discouraged, 
and will do all in my power to encourage the work- 
men to go on." The following year Mead was trans- 
ferred from Georgia, and placed on the Richmond 
District. He found the Church still incomplete, and 
at once drew up and published an appeal to the 
Methodists in the district to aid in the good work. 
He says: **The walls of the house are raised and 
almost inclosed, and I hope in a short time it will be 
ready to accommodate one thousand people to hear 
the gospel preached." By such appeals, and his own 
advances of money, by which he embarrassed him- 
self to some extent, this zealous man soon had the 
satisfaction to see the house finished and ready for 
the worship of God. From this time until set off as 
a station, Lynchburg became one of the regular ap- 
pointments of the Bedford Circuit. 

It was during the previous year that Lorenzo Dow 
made his appearance in Virginia ; he passed rapidly 
through, on his way to the South. In the early part 
of this year he returned, and labored with great suc- 
cess in different parts of the State. As the name of 



456 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

this eccentric man is associated with some of the most 
powerful revivals that prevailed at this period in Vir- 
ginia, a sketch of his life and character will not b^ 
inappropriate. s: 

He was born in Coventry, Connecticut, October 
16, 1777. His parents, he tells us, *'were very ten- 
der toward their children, and endeavored to educate 
them well, both in rehgion and common learning." 
He was religiously impressed at the early age of four 
years. "While at play with several children of the 
same age he ** suddenly fell into a muse about God, 
and heaven and hell," and became so absorbed that 
he left his companions and went into the house. 
His religious convictions clung to him as he increased 
in years. When about twelve, he had a severe spell 
of illness, in which he suffered greatly, being some- 
times unable to lie down for a w^eek together. His 
mind now became greatly distressed by dreams. One 
night the prophet Nathan appeared to him, and when 
he asked him how long he should live, the reply was, 
** Until you are two-and-twenty." This threw him 
into a fearful state of alarm. His next dream was 
of John Wesley, who seemed to appear suddenly 
before him at midday, old and feeble, and leaning 
on a staff. 

*'Do you ever pray?" was the question of the old 

man. 

*'Ko," replied Dow. 

*'You must," said Wesley, and then departed. 
Again he reappeared: '*Do you ever pray?" 
. ** No," was again the reply. 

** After he departed I went out of doors and was 



IN VIRGINIA. 457 

taken up by a wLirlwind above the skies. At length 
I saw through a mist of darkness and across a gulf, 
a glorious place, in which was a throne of ivory, 
overlaid with gold, and God sitting upon it, and 
Jesus at his right hand, and angels and glorified 
spirits celebrating praise. The angel Gabriel came 
to the verge of heaven with a trumpet in his right 
hand, and cried to me with a loud voice to know if 
I desired to get there. I told him I did. 

''Said he, 'Return to the earth and be faithful, 
and you shall come in the end.' 

"The beautiful vision then vanished ; he rapidly 
descended to earth ; and again the old. man appeared 
before him. 

*"Do you pray?' 

"I told him I did. 

"'Then be faithful, and I will come and let you 
know again.'" 

This dream deeply impressed his heart ; he began 
to weep, and to pray for the pardon of his sins. He 
read the Bible, but to him it was a sealed book. He 
went about asking this person and then another to 
explain it to him, but all in vain ; they were as igno- 
rant as himself. He wished he had lived in the days 
of the prophets, that he might have had sure guides. 
"Thus did many months of sorrow roll heavily 
away." Still he read and thought and prayed. But 
now a new trouble seized him. In his reflections the 
thought arose, " that the state of all was unalterably 
fixed by God's eternal decrees." He at once wrote 
himseK reprobate, Hope fled, despair seized him, 



458 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and he determined, by his own hand, to close a 
wretched life. '-^ 

Loading a gun, he withdrew to a secluded spot,'^ 
fully resolved on his dreadful purpose. As he was 
about to pull the trigger, a solemn thought darted 
into his mind : *'Stop and consider what you are 
about ; if you end your life, you are undone forever ; 
but if you omit it a few days longer, it may be that 
something will turn up in your favor." This gave 
him a ray of hope, and he returned home, grateful 
that he had been withheld from the awful deed. 
About this time there was much talk of the Metho- 
diet preachers who began to appear in that paii: of 
ISTew England. Dow, with others was led by curios- 
ity to attend a Methodist meeting. 

The preacher was Hope Hull ; his text was, ** This 
is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that 
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 

** I thought," says Dow, *'he told me all that ever 
I did." 

The next day he preached again ; the sermon was 
powerful, the application overwhelming. 

*' Pointing his finger towards me he made this 
expression : 

Sinner, there is a frowning Providence above 
your head, and a burning hell beneath your feet, 
and nothing but the brittle thread of life prevents 
^our soul from falling into endless perdition. But, 
gays the sinner, what must I do ? You must pray. 
But I can't pray. If you don't pray, then you'll be 
damned, and, as he brought out the last expression, 
he either stamped with his foot on the box on which 



IN VIRGINIA. 45^ 

he stood, or smote with his hand on the Bible, which 
came like a dagger to my heart. I came near falling 
backward from m}' seat, but saved myself by catching 
hold of my cousin who sat by my side, and I durst not 
stir for some time for fear I should tumble into 
hell." 

His distress of mind greatly increased, and he cried 
night and day for pardon. He went the same day to 
a funeral, but durst not look on the corpse for fear of 
becoming one himself, nor come near the grave for 
fear of falling in and being buried alive. Night 
brought greater terrors before him. After struggling 
several hours in prayer he fell into a slumber, but an 
awful dream made his whole frame to quake with 
terror. 

Two devils, he thought, entered the room, seized 
him, bound him with chains and flew off with him 
through the window ; they bore him a great distance 
and laid him down on a spot of ice ; * * the weaker 
devil then flew off in flames of fire," while the 
stronger one set out to carry him down to hell. 

**In my struggle," he writes, " I waked up; and 
oh ! how glad I was that it was only a dream." 

Again he poured out his soul in prayer, but he 
thought he heard the voice of God, saying, ** take 
the unprofitable servant and cast him into outer dark- 
ness.'" 

"I put my hands together," he says, ** and cried 
in my heart, * the time has been, that I might have 
had religion ; but now it is too late ; mercy's gate 13 
shut against me and my condemnation forever sealed. 
Lord, I give up ; I submit, I yield, I yield ; if there 
38* 



460 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

be any mercy in heaven for me, let me know it ; and 
if not, let me go down to hell and know the worst of 
my case.' As the words flowed from my heart, I 
Baw the Mediator step in, as it were, between the 
father's justice and my soul, and these words were 
applied to my mind with great power. *Son, thy sins 
which are many, are forgiven thee, thy faith hath 
saved thee, go in peace." 

** The burden of sin and guilt and the fear of hell 
vanished from my mind, as perceptibly as a hundred 
pound weight from a man's shoulder ; my soul flew 
out in love to God, to his ways, to his people, and to 
all mankind." 

Dow soon felt that he must preach the gospel, but 
he shrunk from the task with dread. He felt that 
he would rather spend his days in some remote part of 
the earth than to go forth as a preacher. He was as 
miserable as when he was seeking the forgiveness of 
his sins. 

He writes : *' Filled with horror and darkness while 
awake, with fearfulness and frightful dreams by night 
for near the space of four weeks, when one night I 
was awakened by surprise, and in idea there were 
represented to my view, two persons ; the one by the 
name of Mercy with a smiling countenance^ wlio said 
to me, * If you will submit, and be willing to go and 
preach, there is mercy for you (he having a book in 
his hand,) the other by the name of Justice with a 
solemn countenance, holding a drawn, glittering 
Bword over my head added, * If you will not submit 
you shall be cut down ; now or never.' " 

He now decided to obey the call at all hazards ; hia 



IN VIRGINIA. 461 

.« 

family gave him no encouragement, but still lie felt 
that a dispensation of the gospel was committed to him 
and that he must preach on the peril of his soul. 
He soon began to exercise in public, under the direc- 
tion of Jesse Lee and his co-laborers in Few Eng- 
land, but the eccentricities of his character, even at 
that early period, made an unfavorable impres- 
sion on the minds of his brethren, and at the end of 
three months he received a formal dismissal from Lee 
in the following words : 

" We have had brother Lorenzo Dow, the bearer 
hereof, travelling on "Warren Circuit, these three 
months past. In several places he was liked by a 
great many people; at other places he was not liked 
so well, and at a few places they were not willing that 
he should preach at all ; we have therefore thought 
it necessary to advise him to return home for a sea- 
son, until a further recommendation can be obtained 
from the Society and preachers of that circuit." 

Jesse Lee, Elder. 

This distressed him greatly, he writes : 

* * I could easier have met death than that discharge; 

two or three handkerchiefs were soon wet with tears ; 

my heart was broke. I expostulated, and besought 

him for further employment, but apparently in vain. 

The next morning, as we were about parting, he said; 

* if you are so minded, you may come to Greenwich 

Quarterly Meeting, next Sunday, on your way 

home.' " 

Dow however, felt that he could not be silent and 

whether formally authorized or not, he embraced every 



462 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

opportunity to call sinners to repentance. Four times 
he tells us, he was sent home ; he was rejected at sev- 
eral Conferences, but in 1798, having ** obtained a 
letter of recommendation signed by above thirty lo- 
cal preachers, stewards, and class -leaders, concerning 
his useful and moral conduct," he was received on 
trial. 

H=e continued to labor for about two years in the 
regular itinerant work, when the low state of his 
health, and his roving disposition, led him to determine 
on a sea voyage. He accordingly sailed from Canada 
for Ireland, and after a boisterous passage reached 
that country, where h^ at once resumed his ministe- 
rial work, with marked success. He returned to 
America after an absence of nearly two years, with 
renewed health and was continued in the Conference 
on trial. He was sent to a circuit, his name being 
omitted in the Minutes. But it was impossible for 
Dow to confine himself to the limits of any circuit, 
he was constitutionally a' cosmopolite. His health 
again failing, he resolved on a visit to the South, and 
after a short voyage landed at Savannah. 

His travels through the United States may now be 
said to have begun. He was not regarded as a Meth- 
odist preacher, though he labored zealously in con- 
nection with the regular itinerants, and was thoroughly 
Armenian in doctrine. He became an independent 
evangelist, erratic in his movements, eccentric in his 
character to the verge of monomania, as some thought, 
yet, it must be confessed, accomplishing a vast 
amount of good. No man of his day, more power- 
fully impressed the multitudes that crowded to hear 



IN VIKGINIA. 



463 



him preach. There was much ahout his person and 
manner to excite the wonder and command the atten- 
tion of his hearers. His spare form and solemn air, 
his long hair and beard, his rather clownish habits, 
the suddenness of his appearance and disappearance, 
the sharp, loud " Hark !" with which he often began 
his sermons, all conspired to give him an air of mys- 
tery wherever he was seen. His sermons, it is said, 
were often mere rhapsodies, and he not unfrequently 
took some trite motto or aphorism for a text, but there 
was an admixture of truth in all his harangues, that 
reached the conscience and aroused the feelings of his 
hearers. Many looked upon him as inspired, and it 
must be acknowledged that his peculiarities rather 
tended to deepen than remove this conviction. 

The period of his appearance was extremely favor- 
able to his success. The great revival which broke 
out in the West was still sweeping through the land ; 
camp-meetings were everywhere held ; the minds of 
the people were constantly on the stretch, looking 
for greater and more wonderful displays of Divine 
power. The preaching was chiefly of a hortatory 
character ; the multitudes swayed and bent before the 
truth like the forests before a mighty wind ; the 
wicked, no less than the godly, were often seized 
with those strange physical afi:ection8 already de- 
scribed, and either fell to the ground or fled with 
alarm from the place of devotion. In the midst of 
these scenes Dow began his career. He was unlike 
any man that had ever passed through the land. His 
appointments were usually made for three, six, or 
twelve months in advance, and at the very hour of 



464 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

^e day, nay, often at the very moment, the form of 
the wonderful man was seen striding through the 
crowd to the pulpit, or to the rude stand under the 
trees. It was a common thing for him to have a 
chain of appointments extending along a route of a 
thousand miles, not one of which he failed to reach. 
It was immaterial with him whether he preached 
from a ship, a rock, a fallen tree, or a table in the 
street, or in the fields ; in private houses, in churches, 
from the platforms of camp-meetings, any where, 
every where, he proclaimed the truth in his own pecu- 
liar and startling manner. 

He was certainly an aggressive preacher. He had 
suffered, as we have seen, from the harsh doctrines of 
Calvinism, and he seems to have almost claimed a 
special call to attack** the A-donble-L-part men," 
as he called them. He was once prosecuted and con- 
victed for a libel on a clergyman, and was imprisoned 
for a short time, but he was no sooner free than he 
went forward in the same undeviating course. Per- 
haps no man was ever more vividly remembered by 
the masses of the people, than Lorenzo Dow. In 
nearly all the States the old people have stamped their 
recollections of this eccentric genius on the minds 
of their children and grand-cbildren . The record ot 
his oddities would fill a volume. Almost every man 
that ever heard him preach can relate a characteristic 
anecdote. One will tell how, as the congregation 
anxiously awaited his appearance, he suddenly darted 
through the crowd, ran into the pulpit, and rising 
with a huge old silver watch in his hand, held it up 
before the people, and exclaimed in a sharp, loud 



IN VIRGINIA. 465 

voice, *' "Watch!" this one word being Ms text. 
Another will relate how on a certain occasion, while 
a vast and confused crowd were awaiting his coming, 
he suddenly leaped on a table, and with a stamp of 
his foot and a clapping of his hands, exclaimed, 
" Hush !" instantly awing the multitude into silence, 
and at once launching out into his discourse ; another 
will tell how Dow at a great meeting pointed out in 
the congregation a poor backslider, and so minutely 
described the circumstances of his fall that the poor 
man fell trembling to the ground as if a prophet had 
spoken to him ; another will describe a scene in 
which Dow finding the church far too small to accom- 
modate a tenth of the crowd collected about it, would 
march with a negro before him bearing a table to 
some old field, with the whole congregation at his 
heels, and mounting his temporary stand, preach and 
depart without saluting a single human being. 

There is no doubt that his extensive travels and in- 
tercourse with all classes of society, together with 
his natural shrewdness, had given him a keen percep- 
tion of human nature, enabled him, indeed, to read 
character with astonishing accuracy ; and his frequent 
exhibition of this peculiar talent gave ground for the 
belief in the minds of many uncultivated persons, 
that he really possessed the power of discerning the 
thoughts and intents of the heart. A case in point 
is related by one who became a successful preacher. 
He was at the time of the incident quite young, and 
and painfully exercised about his call to the ministry. 
**Dow," he writes, ** was to preach in my neighbor- 
hDod. I had never seen him, nor he me ; but hear- 



466 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ing that he was peculiarly pious, before I started to 
church I retired to the woods and prayed that God 
would give me a token by him. I went ; the con- 
gregation being too large for any house, he mounted 
a block in the street. I was standing at his side, 
somewhat behind him. About midway of his ser- 
mon he began to talk on the ministry, and finally 
turned round, and pointing at me, said, * There stands 
a young man that the Lord intends to make a 
preacher of, if he will but go home and get more 
religion.' Truly, had the earth opened under my 
feet, I could not have felt much more consternation 
than I did on that occasion." • 

The solution of this case is quite easy, and the 
same might be said of others stranger than this, pro- 
vided we knew the circumstances connected with 
them. 

Dow was perhaps affectedly singular ; innocently so, 
we may hope, believing that he could thus more 
deeply impress the minds of his hearers on the great 
subject of religion. On one occasion he came in his 
journey to a farmer's kitchen, and asked for a piece 
of dry bread. The daughter ran in and told her 
mother, who was sick, that a strange looking man, 
Avith long hair, long beard, and a book under his 
arm, wanted a piece of bread. He was urged to 
stay to dinner, but he declined ; receiving the piece 
of bread, he went to a small stream, where he sung 
a hymn, prayed, then dipped his bread in the water, 
ate it, and went on his way. At another time he 
was found at a farmer's gate, leaning his head against 
th--^ post, as if weary and faint. He was kindly in- 



IN VIRGINIA, 



467 



vited to the bouse by tbe proprietor. Dow accepted 
the invitation, aud told tbem if tbey would notify 
tbeir neighbors be would preacb for tbem tbat even-- 
ing. This was done, and be preacbed on tbe words, 
*< I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; bungry, and 
ye fed me." 

A great number of anecdotes yet linger among 
us in connection witb tbe career of tbis singular man. 
Some of tbem bave tbe air of incredibility and ex- 
travagance wben related of a minister of tbe gospel, 
but wben we remember tbe notorious eccentricities 
of Dow, we sball be disposed to receive tbem as true. 

He once fell into a dispute witb a learned physi- 
cian who was an idealist. Dow strove to convince 
bim tbat there were realities in nature, but in vain ; 
to all bis arguments there came the same reply, 
" 'Tis but the force of imagination." At length the 
doctor, with an air of much self-importance, laid his 
pipe on the table, and turning toward the window, 
as he sat in his arm chair, said, '' Tbere, Mr. Dow," 
pointing to the opposite side of the street, *'is a 
wagon as I imagined, but it is all the force of " 

Before be could finish the sentence Dow took up 
the pip' V which still held a hve coal, and emptied 
tbe contents into tbe doctor's boot. 

<<What on earth are you about!" be exclaimed, 
instantly seizing tbe boot with both hands. 

'' nothing but imagination," said Dow, coolly ; 
nothing but imagination !" and immediately departed, 
leaving tbe doctor to dress bis imaginary wound. 
At his next appointment his subject was, " Tbe force 
of imagination." 
39 



468 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The story of his finding the stolen axe is well 
known. The scene of this anecdote is laid in Mary- 
land. As he rode up to one of his appointments, a 
poor man met him, and with a rueful face informed 
him that some one had stolen his axe, and hegged 
that he would be good enough to tell him where it 
was. Dow assured him that he had no power of 
knowing such things ; but he would not be put off; 
he was sure the preacher could find his axe if he 
would. At length, moved by his entreaties, Dow 
promised to do the best he could for him. 

*'Do you suspect any one of stealing it?" said Dow. 

*'Yes," replied the man, *'I think I know the 
person, but cannot be certain." 

** Will he be at meeting ?" 

*' Yes, sir, he is sure to be there." 

Dow said no more, but picking up a good sized 
stone, took it with him into the pulpit and placed it 
on the desk in fall view of the congregation. Of 
course the people w^ere sadly puzzled to know the 
meaning of this. After closing his sermon, he took 
up the stone, and said to the audience: **Some one 
has stolen an axe belonging to Mr. A., a poor man — 
the thief is here — he is before me now, and I intend, 
after turning round three times, to hit him on the 
head with this stone." He then turned slowly round 
twice ; the third time he turned with great force, as 
if he intended to hurl the stone into the midst of the 
congregation. Instantly a man dodged his head be- 
hind the pew. *^Now," said Dow, **I will expose 
you no further ; but if you don't leave that axe to- 
night where you got it, I will publish you to-morrow." 



IN VIRGINIA. 469 

The axe was promptly returned. The truth of this 
story has been vouched for. 

A much more amusing anecdote is related of Dow, 
which so well accords with his character that we are 
are strongly inclined to give it full credence. 

After a long and tiresome journey he stopped about 
nightfall at the door of a country tavern in Western 
Virginia. He retired to his apartment, but was much 
disturbed by a party of revellers who sat at their 
cups and cards until a late hour. I^ear midnight one 
of the company discovered that he had lost his pock- 
et book, and a search was proposed. The landlord 
here remarked that Lorenzo Dow was in the house, 
and that if the money had been lost there, he could 
certainly find it. The suggestion was adopted at 
once, and Dow was aroused and requested to find the 
rogue. As he entered the room he glanced search- 
ingly around, but could see no signs of guilt on any 
face. The loser was in great trouble and begged 
Dow to find his money. 

**Have any left the room since you lost your 
money," said Dow. 

**E"one, none," replied the man. 

** Then," said Dow, turning to the landlady, ** go 
and bring me your large dinner pot." 

This excited no little astonishment, but as they 
accorded to him supernatural powers, the order was 
promptly obeyed, and the pot placed in the centre of 
the room. 

** ;N'ow," said Dow, ** go and bring the old chicken- 
cock from the roost." 

The amazement grew apace ; however, the old 



470 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

rooster was brought in, placed in tliepot, and securely 
covered. 

*' Let the doors be now fastened, and all the lights 
put out," said Dow ; this was done. 

**E"ow," said he, ** every person in the room must 
rub his hand hard against the pot, and when the 
guilty hand touches the cock will crow." 

All then came forward and rubbed or pretended to 
rub against the pot, but the cock did not crow. 

**Let the candles be now lighted; there is no 
guilty person here ; if the man ever had any money 
he must have left it in some other place," said Dow. 

**But stop," he exclaimed suddenly, **let us now 
examine the hands." This was of course the main 
point in the whole affair. It was found that one 
man had not rubbed against the pot. ** There," said 
DoWj pointing to the man with clean hands, " there is 
the man who picked your pocket." The thief at once 
confessed and gave up the money. 

Such are specimens of the anecdotes which abound 
in the history of this singular man. We close this 
sketch with a brief summary of Dow's character, 
which we find in the preface to his published works. 

'* His eccentricities and style of preaching attracted 
great attention, while his shrewdness and quick dis- 
cernment of character gave him no inconsiderable 
influence over the multitudes that attended his min- 
istry. He travelled extensively in England and Ire- 
land, and repeatedly visited almost every portion of 
the United States. He was a preacher for more than 
thirty years, and it is probable that more persons 
heard the gospel from his lips than any other man 



IN VIRGINIA. 471 

since tlie days of Whitefield. He wrote several books, 
particularly a history of his own life, so singularly 
eventful, and full of vicissitudes. His purity of pur- 
pose and benevolence of character, can hardly be 
questioned. He was a Methodist in principle, and 
though not in connection with that Church, was held 
in esteem by many of its members." Dow closed 
his erratic life at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 
on the 2d of February, 1834. He was buried in 
the city of Washington, and over his remains was 
placed a tombstone, bearing but two words, 

Lorenzo Dow. 

The revival of this year (1804) was not confined 
to that portion of the State lying within the hmits of 
the Virginia Conference. The northern tier of coun- 
ties embraced in the Baltimore Conference were 
greatly blessed with the outpourings of the Spirit. 

At Alexandria, where the Baltimore Conference 
held its session in April, there was a gracious season. 
"At this Conference," says Henry Smith, ** Bishop 
Asbury dedicated the new Methodist Church," and 
it was doubly consecrated by the conversion of a 
number of souls. ** When a certain brother's case," 
says the same writer, "came before the Conference 
for admission on trial, one of the preachers said, 
*But he is married.' Asbury replied, *What of 
that ? perhaps he is better for it. Better take preach- 
ers well married, than be at the trouble of marrying 
them after you get them." 

Father Smith has left us in his "Recollections" 
39* 



472 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

some interesting notices of the work in the Winches- 
ter Circuit. At Shackleford there was a good work, 
and many were gathered into the Church. At Mid- 
dletown **the preachers had preached for some time, 
but could get no congregation ; hut now the people 
began to come out to hear a poor, noisy backwoods 
preacher : and many hardened sinners were converted, 
and some notorious backsliders were reclaimed." At 
** Saddler's" they had a precious time, and the So- 
ciety was greatly revived. At *'Haggon's," in the 
pine hills, the power of the Lord attended the word; 
many wept, some cried aloud for mercy, and the 
Lord's people were very much encouraged. At H. 
Coe's he had a peculiar scene. ** It was night and 
rainy, but we had a crowd of sinners — some drunk. 
I preached with liberty, and in my zeal, said that the 
Lord would convert some one there that night. "We 
labored on awhile, but the power of darkness was 
great, and some disposed to be disorderly ; so I dis- 
missed the congregation, retired into another room, 
and threw myself on a bed quite exhausted, and wept 
on account of the wickedness of the people, and also 
my rashness in predicting that the Lord would con- 
vert some soul there that night. All was silence in 
the room where the meeting had been held, and I 
thought the people were gone ; but when I came out, 
I found twelve or fifteen still there, and in tears. I 
spoke a few words, sung and prayed again, and the 
Lord shed his Holy Spirit upon us. Some cried 
aloud to the Lord for mercy, and four or &ve were 
soundly converted. Here they threatened to bring 
whiskey, and if I would not drink, they would fun- 



IN VIRGINIA. 473 

nel me and make me drink ; but none of their 
threats were ever executed. Some were absolutely 
afraid of me, and said, <He has been to the West 
where he learned the art of knockiDg them down ; 
for before he came home there was none of it.' I 
preached at my father's one Sunday afternoon ; the 
house was crowded. A blooming, gay, young lady 
came in, and took a seat near where I stood. Her 
smiling countenance seemed to say, I am proof 
against your art. I thought. Perhaps you may weep 
before I am done. I had not got near through my 
sermon before she trembled, and fell off her seat, 
crying for mercy. The people were much alarmed ; 
some pushed for the door, others stood trembling, 
and those out of doors looked frightened. The 
young lady found peace, and went home rejoicing." 

*<At Mr. Clark's, in a place they called * Poverty 
Hollow,' we had a powerful time. I never saw peo- 
ple more affected under preaching ; some could not 
refrain from crying out. I went among them, and 
spoke to all that were in my way. One poor sinner 
was dreadfully offended, and said, *I do not want 
you to talk to me.' He said when he went out, 
that he never would hear me preach again, but was 
there again that day, four weeks, and got powerfully 
awakened and turned to the Lord." 

At Front Royal, so great was the interest among 
the people, that he writes: **I have seldom seen so 
great a time of God's converting power.' 

At Winchester, Milburn's, and 'Crum's, there was 
a gracious time, and many were converted. **This 
brother Crum was a German preacher ; his religious 



474 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

experience was a little singular. When under strong 
conviction be went to a Quarterly Meeting at Mil- 
burn's, wbere there was a gracious work. Some got 
converted. He said, *I prayed in Dutch, I am 
Dutch, and must get converted in Dutch. These are 
all English people, and they get converted in Eng- 
lish. I prayed, and prayed in Dutch, but could not 
g;et the blessing. At last I felt willing to get con- 
verted in English or Dutch, as the Lord pleased. 
Then the blessing came, and I got converted in 
English.'" 

The faithful labors of this man of God resulted in 
the addition of three hundred members to the Church 
in the Winchester Circuit. The scenes here de- 
scribed were such as occurred over the whole field of 
Methodism in those early days. The life of the itin- 
erant preacher was full of thrilling adventures, and the 
veterans who, like the venerable Henry Smith, have 
passed into another generation, find their serene old 
age cheered and brightened by the reminiscences of 
past years of glorious toil . 



IN VIRGINIA. 475 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The two veterans — Conference of 1805, at Edmund Taylor's^ 
Pastoral Address — Asbury and "Whatcoat in Virginia — Joseph 
Carson — Recollections of Methodism in "Winchester — Labors of 
Mr. Carson — A Quarterly Meeting — Camp-meeting — Persecu- 
tion — Awful judgment on a scoffer — Louis R. Fechtig — Con- 
ference of 1806 — Benjamin Devany — Anecdotes — "Work of grace 
among the Churches— Impressive scenes — Conference of 1807 — 
Proposal of the New York Conference for calling a General 
Conference — Rejected by the Conference— Richard Whatcoat — 
His labors and death — Edward Cannon — John Early — Labors of 
the early preachers — Conference of 1808 — Trials of an Itine- 
rant — General Conference of 1808. 

THE Yirginia Conference for 1805 assembled at 
Edmund Taylor's, Granville county, I^orth Car- 
olina, on the 1st of March. 

The two veterans, Asbury and Whatcoat, reached 
the line of Yirginia early in February, on their way 
to the seat of Conference. They were both feeble 
old men, but strong in faith and in the power of the 
Holy Ghost. They knew how to endure hardness as 
good soldiers of Christ. *' We stemmed the north- 
west wind," writes Asbury, 'twenty miles to cross 
the awful Roanoke. For a mile and a half from the 
ferry, the fences were swept away. After crossing 
the river, which had fallen when they reached it, 
they **rode thirty-two miles to Joseph Penners, 

Northampton, without seeing the inside of a house." 
40 



476 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Asbury was sick and ** most severely penetrated with 
cold •" Beaching Suffolk, they preached, then pushed 
on through water, mud and mire to Portsmouth." 
From this place, Asbury writes : ** We had a meet- 
ing of the official members for business ; they unan- 
imously wished to have a stationed preacher: this 
was a great difficulty last year. Our chapel has been 
enlarged to sixty feet by thirty. I advised the addi- 
tion of galleries. We met the official members of 
the Norfolk society. Here are some difficulties and 
more poverty ; but the work progresses here as well 
as at Portsmouth, where the society has grown and 
prospered under the care of John Potts." Returning 
on their route they preached again at Suffolk ; at 
Murphy's they found the work reviving; **a new 
house was in preparation." *'The place is too strait," 
writes Asbury, ** we must make room for them to 
dwell." 

They rejoiced to find that God had wrought pow- 
ertully at Blunt' s and Benn's ; at the former place 
the people were preparing a large house of worship. 
The hearts of the good Bishops were gladdened to 
find that in this part of the work many who had been 
led away by O'Kelly were returning to the Church. 
** General Wells and famil}^" says Asbury, "have 
returned to us. Willis Wells is coming back from 
following O'Kelly, besides twenty other members who 
had been drawn away ; they profess to have had 
enough of him. Mr. O'Kelly has come down with 
great zeal, and preaches three hours at a time, upon 
government, monarchy, and episcopacy ; occasionally 
varying the subject by abuse of the Methodists, calling 



IN VIRGINIA. 477 

them aristocrats and tories ; a people, who, if the} 
had the power, would force the government at the 
sword's point. Poor man ! The Methodists have 
but two of their very numerous Society members of 
Congress, and until these Democratic times we never 
had one. I question if, in all the public legislative 
bodies in the seventeen United States, there are more 
than twenty members Methodists. No ; our people 
are a very independent people, who think for them- 
selves ; and are as apt to differ in politics, (so do the 
preachers) and divide at the hustings, as those of any 
other denomination ; and surely they are not seekers 
of the offices of this world's profit or honor ; if they 
were, what might they not gain in many parts of the 
United States? Whilst one rails at us, others who are 
always fond of fishing in troubled waters, take those 
who are already in our net ; or, hunting on forbidden 
ground, pick up our crippled game ; see w^hat be- 
lievers their Church is composed of!" 

Passing through Surry, Sussex, Prince Edward, 
Brunswick, Greensville and Mecklenburg counties, 
the Bishops crossed the Koanoke at Taylor's Ferry, 
and rode twenty miles to Edmund Taylor's the seat 
of the Conference. . 

** We felt a little serious," writes Asbury, ^* think- 
ing our elder children and strong sons would leave 
us by location ; and that we should have none but. 
old, tottering men, and green, unpracticed boys to 
take care of the plantation ; but we have a great hus- 
bandman, Jesus, and a good God." 

The Conference opened on Friday, the 1st of 
March, and remained in session a week; fourteen 



478 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

preachers were received on trial ; four Deacons and 
five Elders- were ordained ; four located, none had 
died. 

The membership was reported at 14,247 whites, 
and 3, 573 colored ; the increase among the former 
was 1,065, hut there was a decrease among the latter 
of 184. 

The deficencies of the preachers amounted to 
$561.30 ; to meet these the Conference received from 
all sources $349.39 ; of this sum only $86 were col- 
lected on the circuits ; $100 were received from the 
Book Fund ; and $20 from the Chartered Fund, the 
remainder was made up by private donations, and 
small legacies from deceased preachers. 

There were 33 appointments supplied by 55 
preachers. 

The Minutes are for the first time signed by Fran- 
cis Asbury as President and Alexander McCaine as 
Secretary. 

From this Conference the following address was 
sent *' To all the official Brethren — ^Local Preachers, 
Class Leaders and Stewards in their Quarterly 
Meeting Conferences in the Districts and Circuits of 
their Charge." 

* * Dearly Beloved in the Lord: 

''Grace and peace attend yon, with our salutation 
to all saints. 

** Possibly in your local situations you have not 
taken perfect knowledge of what God has done for 
us as a society in the space of thirty-five years. We 
have not only planted, but have made a very 



IN VIRGINIA. 479 

gracious progress of tlie gospel in the seventeen 
United States, and in the Territorial settlements, as 
also in the Canadian Provinces, as may be seen by 
the Annual Minutes. ' What hath God wrought V 
We cont-emplate the happy hundreds already gone to 
glory ; and more than one hundred thousand now in 
fellowship with us ; and the children and servants ot 
our brethren must still greatly augment our charge ; 
with these christianized and spiritualized, we might 
calculate on half a million of souls who stand in 
Church relation to us. Again, when we consider all 
those who as regularly attend our ministry as our own 
members, we might calculate on one million, proba- 
bly one-sixth part of the inhabitants of these United 
States. 

** What but a travelling ministry, and a very rapid 
one too, could have spread themselves over so great a 
part of this Western Continent in so short a time. 
We have upwards of 400 travelling and 2,000 local 
preachers, with exhorters, the latter a source whence 
we can draw supplies to replenish and strengthen 
our travelling ministry. brethren, help us by all 
and every laudable means in your power ; what should 
not men do and suffer for souls, after the example ot 
Christ, and in obedience to his word Our local breth- 
ren can keep our congregations together by preaching 
in the absence of the travelling line ; they can pro- 
mote class-meetings, order and union among the 
Societies, they can see that none enter in among the 
flock, to pervert or draw away disciples after them. 
Our local brethren highly esteem the travelling plan ; 
some of them have spent their happiest and most 
40* 



480 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

■Qseful days in tlie active work. The local ministry 
can help us greatly at camp and Quarterly Meetings ; 
they can promote prayer-meetings ; and when the 
work of God breaks out in a Society can nurse the 
good cause. When the travelhng ministry are obliged 
to go on to their daily appointments, they can be 
always ready to fill their places. "When modesty or self- 
diffidence prevails among the travelling preachers, and 
they hesitate to ask the people to contribute a mite, the 
local brethren can exhort and urge the Societies to give 
liberally to sustain those who might have been full, 
free and probably independent if they had tarried at 
home. 

Indeed it is not possible to estimate the good that 
has been done since the sitting of the General Con- 
ference in May, 1804. From what has fallen under 
the notice of this Conference, it appears that betw^een 
200 and 300 camp and extraordinary meetings have 
been held, where from ten to fifteen, twenty, fifty, 
one hundred, two hundred, and, in one remarkable 
instance, four hundred souls have been converted. 
AVho can conceive what may be done in twenty years 
to come ? 

brethren, was there ever a time like this ! Help, 
help by your prayers, preaching and purses. Many 
of our travelling ministry are married men, and do 
not receive above ^82 per annum to support a w^ife 
and children ; and whenever we have a surplus in 
our Conferences, we do not bank it or give it where 
there are no just claims, but send it on to the poorer 
Conferences in the more extreme parts of the Korth 
and East. 



IN VIRGINIA. 481 

To conclude : such fields are opening, so many 
preachers to preach, and so many people to pray, and 
such multitudes to be converted, what shall we see 
in twenty years to come, if the travelling and local 
preachers are united, preaching the same doctrines, 
approving and enforcing the same discipline, and 
seeking by all lawful means ministerial and Christian 
union among themselves and all Christian ministers 
and societies ? This living and walking as dear chil- 
dren, what will not a good and gracious God do 
for us ? 

Francis Asbury. 

Signed in, and by order of Conference, 8th March, 
1804." 

No sooner had the Conference adjourned than 
Asbury and Whatcoat w^ere again on the road. Their 
route lay through the Piedmont region of the State ; 
every where they were joyfully received as the chief 
Pastors of the Church. This journey was attended 
with much suffering from the occasionally cold 
w^eather. ** I find," says Asbury, " that nothing so 
interrupts my communion with God as the cold. I 
cannot keep my mind fixed when my whole system 
seems to be penetrated and stiffened with the cold 
wind." On their route they spent a day or two in 
Lynchburg. "I did not find my mind or body," 
writes Asbury, '' or the circumstances of the chapel, 
or the state of the Society as I wished. We did not 
lose time. Brother Whatcoat spoke on Friday 
night. On Saturday I preached. On the Sabbath 
day I was very unwell. Brother Whatcoat preached 



482 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and administered the Sacrament. At three o'clock 
I was forced to duty by the wishes of the people. 
We had about one thousand or fifteen hundred peo- 
ple of the town and country." From Lynchburg 
they passed through Amherst, Albemarle, Fluvanna 
and Culpepper, crossed the Blue Eidge at Chester's 
Gap, and rested a day or two at Front Koyal. On 
the 1st of April they opened the Baltimore Confer- 
ence at Winchester, *^ sitting five days in great order 
and peace." Seventy-four preachers were present; 
they had preaching day and night, and **some souls 
were converted to God. " 

Among those received on trial at this Conference 
we find the name of Joseph Carson ; a name that to 
this day fills an honorable place in the rolls of the 
itinerancy. Although originally admitted in the Bal- 
timore Conference this pure and excellent man has been 
so long identified with the Virginia Conference that 
he merits more than a passing notice in our narrative. 
It is our good fortune to be able to give an account 
of Father Carson's early life and Christian experience, 
kindly furnished by himself at the request of the 
author. 

*< My earliest recollections of Methodism in Win- 
chester, (his native town) date back to 1791, w^hen 
I was but six years old. About this time my brother, 
Brattie Carson, joined the Church, and I doubt not 
my youthful mind was more deeply impressed with 
the fact, from my distress as his cutting short his ele- 
gant suit of hair, which it was then fashionable to wear 
n a queue ; but there was not room for a man and 
queue both in the Methodist Church in those days- 



IN VIRGINIA. 485 

My brother, George A. Eeid, and James Walls, 
were, I believe, almost the first male members in the 
town ; he was the steward, and Ried and "Walls 
became local preachers. The first travelling preacher 
of whom I have any personal knowledge was John 
Talbot [it is William in the Minutes] ; he was a faith- 
ful, dauntless man of God, and feared not to deliver 
his Master 8 message while stones and eggs were 
being hurled at his head. I still remember with what 
veneration I regarded him of whom I had heard it 
said, that while he was preaching, the blood was 
trickling from gashes on his face. He used some- 
times to preach on my brother's lot under a tree, be- 
neath whose spreading branches was a large rock 
which formed his pulpit. Thehousesof Mrs. Bowers 
and Messrs. Wall and Reid were also places of preach- 
ing and holding class and prayer meetings, which 
latter were often conducted by the wives of these 
brethren. 

** The first time I ever saw Bishop Asbury he was 
standing on a table, on the green, preaching. About 
1795, I think, they began a church but were not able 
to finish it for sometime. Philip Bruce and Leroy 
Cole, men dear to the hearts of many, even at this day ? 
us ed to. accompany the Bishop occasionally. 

** Among the local preachers in the Valley I re- 
member the names of Lewis Chastain, John B. Til- 
den, William Cravens, George A. Reid and James 
Wall ; and of the prominent lay members, those of 
Samuel Calvert, Simon Lauck and James Fewham. 
Enoch George, Nicholas Snethen, Thomas Lyell, 
Hamilton Jefferson, Jeremiah Browning and Stephen 



4g|. MEMOKIALS OF METHODISM 

G. Roszell, are also names around wliicli cluster 
many associations of Methodism in this section of 
country. 

" Our Quarterly Meetings used to be occasions of 
special interest, and were attended by persons from 
great distances, even 40 and 50 miles ; they were 
always seasons of revival. 

" I well remember the first one I ever attended ; it 
was held at Shepherdstown in 1800. SeelyBunn was 
preacher in charge, Daniel Hitt, Presiding Elder. 
I went with Bros. Wall, Reid, Shields, and a number 
of ladies and gentlemen. I was not then a Christian, 
but was considerably interested on the subject of re- 
ligion. "We were on horseback, and as we approached 
the town, we formed a procession, the ministers being 
in front, and began to sing ; as we rode through the 
town singing, the people regarded us very curiously. 
Near this place lived Brothers Lafferty and Bunnis- 
ton, men known for their zeal and piety." 

Mr. Carson was licensed to preach by Henry Smith, 
in 1804, and the following year was admitted on 
trial. 

He writes : " In March, 1806, the Baltimore Con- 
ference sat in Winchester, in an upper room of the 
house of George A. Held, corner of Piccadilly and 
Braddock streets. My recommendation to that body 
having preceded me, I was admitted on trial with 
twenty-two others, of whom I am the only survivor. 
I was appointed to Wyoming circuit in Pennsylvania* 
Immediately after the close of Conference, in company 
with James Paynter, a man many years my senior, 
I set out from the home of my youth without the ex- 



IN viRmNiA. 485 

pectation of returniDg for at least two years. After 
about thirteen days' travel, through mud and marsh, 
swimming creeks and rivers, we reached the house of 
Christian Bournan, on the West Fork River opposite 
the village of Berwick. Here we were kindly re- 
ceived, and found a pleasant home during our stay on 
the circuit; it was one of our regular preaching 
places, for be it remembered there was not a Metho- 
dist Church on the circuit. Wyoming circuit then 
included all of Pennsylvania from the West Fork 
nearly to the boundary of l^ew York. We had 32 
appointments in 28 days, to reach which we travelled 
400 miles, crossing eight mountains, and passing 
through Beech Swamp, fifty miles in length, which 
abounded in rattlesnakes. 

**Bat this was by no means the. worst feature. 
Our physical labor was of small moment when com- 
pared with the persecutions of every kind- with which 
we met from the Universalists, Hell-Redemptionists, 
Seventh-Day Baptists, Free Will Baptists, Deists, 
Atheists, and sinners of all classes. Among the 
wealthy and refined very bitter opposition to 'Metho- 
dism existed, consequently our homes were among 
the poor, who were scarcely able to supply us with the 
jiecessaries of life, to say nothing of comforts ; but 
they had kind hearts, and such as they had gave they 
unto us. Our food was of the coarsest kind and not 
the most cleanly. Breakfast generally consisted of 
cofliee made of toasted corn bread, sometimes a little 
pickled pork, fried to a cracklin, and a scanty supply 
of bread; for dinner we had a few vegetables, and oc- 
casionally wild meat ; supper was pretty much a repe- 



486 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

tition of breakfast : tea was made of hemlock leaves 
sweetened with honey. 

*^The most of the houses were log cabins, covered 
with bark, straw or slabs ; many of them contained 
but one room, which they used for everything, and in 
which the family and guests all lodged. The bed- 
steads were made by driving forks into the puncheon 
floors, placing poles in them and laying slabs across ; 
a little straw, covered with a piece of coarse cloth 
served as the bed. Many a morning have I found a 
layer of snow forming my outer coverlet, for the roofs 
were too open to prevent its entrance. In only two 
settlements could we be at all comfortable for the first 
six months, but afterward a brighter prospect opened 
before us, and we were welcomed to many a fireside 
from which we had been excluded." 

Of some of the meetings on this rough circuit he 
gives an interesting account. 

**The lirst quarter passed without any cheering 
signs. The membership on the whole circuit num- 
bered about four hundred, but of these we expelled 
forty Kefore we received one. It was our purpose 
from the beginning to have class-meetings, and to 
conduct them according to the old Wesleyan style, 
with closed doors, but this was vehemently opposed 
by the people, and in some places by the members. 
I determined to try the efitect of a general class, at 
which I interrogated every one in the room, and 
found, as I expected, that the object with many was 
to ridicule religion. I therefore resolved that closed 
doors we should have. At the next appointment after 
the services were concluded, I announced my view^ 



IN viRaiNiA. 487 

and requested all, except the Christians and those de- 
shmg to become such, to leave the room; most of 
them complied, but a few seemed inclined to test my 
determination . I repeated the request, but it was 
not heeded until I assured them that I was in earnest 
about this thing, and I had even to tell one man that 
if he did not go out, it would be because he was a 
stronger man than I. After continued exertions we 
carried our point, and these meetings were the scenes 
of many conversions." 

Here is a picture of a Quarterly Meeting in those 
days : 

** At our second Quarterly Meeting we concluded 
to begin on Friday and give them ' a long heat.' A 
great number came from a distance, but the people 
in the neighborhood objected to this departm^e from 
the established custom of beginning on Saturday ; 
therefore but few of them came out. "We preached 
in a barn, and the congregation, many of them not 
being able to get into the house, was seated on rocks, 
stumps and logs in the yard. After the sermon, 
many of the strangers came to me to kn9w where 
they could stay ; I replied, '■ I really did not know, 
for as yet I had no invitation myself;' however, the 
ladies were disposed of after a while, but the men 
found lodging that night in the hay mows. On Satur- 
day there was no visible effect. Oh Sunday, during 
the exhortation that followed the sermon, I saw a 
young lady evidently affected. I made my way to 
her, and very soon she was on her knees, and in a 
short time was happily converted. Soon I heard the 
"whisper, * Disorder ! disorder !' running through the 



488 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

coDgregation. < "W"e cannot submit to anything of 
this sort,' was the conclusion. Some complained to 
my colleague, and asked if he thought it was right. 

* Of course I do,' he replied. * Well,' said they, 

* we have a stick in soak for him, and we will let him 
know that he shall not behave so among us. But he 
advised them to be quiet, saying ' he was horn in the 
fire, and you may expect such things of him as long 
as he lives.' We intended protracting the meeting 
on Monday but the people would not submit to it. 
The young lady was the only convert, and she after- 
wards walked thirteen miles to join the Church ; she 
was the first one we received on trial." At the 
next Quarterly Meeting they had fifteen converts, and 
a glorious work broke out which continued tiR the 
close of the year. 

Young Carson appointed a class-meeting at Ber- 
wick, on the opposite side of the river from the scene 
of this revival. *'Itook with me," he says, ''two 
boat loads of young converts, and we had a delightful 
and profitable meeting in which several were con- 
verted. 'After the close of the exercises, as we were 
leaving the house, a man came to me in great distress 
and said, * Please pray for me.' *Well,' said I, 

* there is no better time than the present ; kneel down 
and I will pray for you ;' so down in the street we 
knelt and prayed together, and he was happily 
converted." 

At the close of the year they counted 600 con- 
verted, and 400 added to the Church on the old cir- 
cuit, and the remaining 200 placed in a new two 
week's circuit. At the Conference the Bishop ap- 



m VIRGINIA. 489 

pointed a preacher to this new field with the remark ; 
** Two weeks work is ready for you ; go and dig up 
the other two." 

A camp-meeting scene of thrilling interest has 
also been described by the same hand. 

'* During the year I attended one of brother Fry's 
camp meetings. The camp ground presented a very 
different appearance from those of the present day. The 
tents were not large, commodious rooms, but only 
sheets, blankets, &c., stretched on poles; the seats 
were logs, stumps, stones or anything we could get ; 
the stand was somewhat after the present style, but 
there was no altar. The food was of the plainest 
kind, and for the most part cold— the tables then 
groaned not beneath a sumptuous load. Brothers 
Fry, Pernell, Wilson, and Paynter were there. We 
met with strong opposition and much persecution ; 
not only threats but stones were hurled at us, but 
their efforts to harm us were frustrated in an almost 
miraculous manner. On the night of the second or 
third day, a party of rowdies determined to break up 
the meeting. While brother Pernell was preaching 
the rocks came pretty thick, and one striking the 
lamp post cut a gash in it which must have been 
fatal had it been on a man's head ; he barely escaped 
it by the gesture which he happened to make at that 
moment. 

'*I was to exhort after his sermon, and when I 
arose I told them that I supposed it was their inten- 
tion to make a martyr of some one of us, and I reck- 
oned I could be spared as well as any of my brethren ; 
' and now,' said I, * I will stand hero five minutes by 



490 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

my watch, and receive all the stones that you will 
throw ; and drawing my watch from my pocket, I 
stood with it in my hand. Fot a sound was heard, 
not a stone was thrown ; an awful stillness pervaded 
the ground. At the expiration of ^ve minutes I 
spoke : * Will you now allow me to deliver one more 
message?' I then began my exhortation and before 
I finished men and women were falling upon their 
knees all through the congregation. After I was 
done I told them I would wait five minutes 
again as at first for their volley of stones but 
none came. Brothers Pernell, "Wilson and myself 
then left the stand to talk and pray with the pen- 
itents. While thus engaged we observed, at a little 
distance, a group of men, and it was proposed that we 
should all repair to that spot. When we reached the 
place we found a man kneeling down, who seemed to 
be weeping and in great distress. Without speak- 
ing to any of the group I turned to the preachers and 
said, * Brethren, I have never felt the powers of 
darkness so sensibly. I feel as if the Devil was here.' 
' That is just the way I feel,' said Pernell ; ' I think 
the Devil is here ; let us pray,' said Wilson, and 
lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, offered this 
prayer : * Lord God ! if this man is sincere, con- 
vert his soul ; if not, give us some proof of his 
hypocrisy. Amen . ' 

** Without speaking a word to any of them, we 
turned and walked off. In a short time a physician 
was sent for to see this very man. I went with him ; 
we found him stretched upon the ground, apparently 
insensible. The doctor after feeling his pulse, said: 



IN VIRGINIA. 491 

* I can do nothing for him ; this is something I know- 
nothing about ; his arterial action is good, but ne lias 
no muscular action.' At 12 o'clock that night I 
visited him again, and found him in the same con- 
dition. About day break he recovered his strength 
sufficiently to take a piece of chalk from his pocket 
and write his confession on a board, which was nearly 
as follows : * We had determined to break up this 
meeting, but finding that we could not scare the 
preachers by throwing stones at them, we concluded 

to have some fun. I was to be a mourner, was 

to pray for me, was to exhort ; I was then to 

get converted and raise a Methodist shout, but just 
at that moment my speech and strength left me, and 
I am now in this condition.' He was the next morn- 
ing borne on a litter to the village of Milton; about 
three miles distant. The meeting continued nearly 
a week and about fifty souls were converted. Before 
leaving the neighborhood I inquired about this unfor- 
tunate man, and was told that he could walk, but 
had neyer spoken, and that on the counters in the 
stores, and in different places he was ever writing his 
confession. 

Many years afterward at a Camp Meeting in Eap- 
pahannock county I met with a lady who had heard 
this incident from the mouth of her father ; he was 
an eye-witness, and to it he attributed his conver- 
sion." 

The follow^ing year was also spent in Pennsylvania, 
and at the risk of moving in advance of our narra- 
tive, we give a few extracts from Mr. Carson's inter- 
esting communication. His field x)f labor was Carlisle 
41* 



492 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

circuit, ^* embracing York, Adams, Cumberland, and 
parts of several other counties." 

^' The first of the year we had a little of the spice 
of persecution, but it did not last long. At Ship- 
pensburg the church was stoned while brother Paynter 
was preaching, and the intention to * kill the young 
one the next time he came,' was publicl y announced. 
I went, and while preaching I observed two ladies 
leave their seats and stand in the door which was just 
in front of the pulpit : they were both pious members 
of the Church. I knew nothing of what was going 
on out of doors, and thought this rather a singular 
movement, but said nothing ; presently a man pushed 
by them and began to talk aloud ; but a Presbyterian 
brother who was a magistrate requested him to be 
silent. * 

^' Who are you ?" demanded the man. 

*' If you interrupt this congregation Pll show^ you," 
answered he ; and finding his threat insufficient, he 
ordered an officer to take him into custody. 
" **The mob in the yard attempted his rescue, but 
their efforts were defeated. He was next morning 
started to jail, but meeting his father who promised 
to be his security upon condition that he would go off, 
he was released. I met him a few days afteiward 
with his knapsack on his back, an outcast from his 
home." 

The following incident in reference to one of the 
most efficient and powerful preachers of the Baltimore 
Conference has a peculiar interest. 

** During this year I preached several times in Ha- 
gerstown, Maryland ; there Methodism had very few 



IN YIRGlNIAe 493 

friends. Louis E. Fechtig, who was afterward an 
eloqnent preacher, was then an apprentice hoy, living 
there. He had heen converted a short time before, 
and was very zealous for our cause, and notwithstand- 
ing the heavy stripes with which he was beaten by 
both father and master, 'who were determined to whip 
Methodism out of him,' he would always light the 
church for me. He told me after he became a 
preacher, that his father once stood in the yard, for 
he would not go in a church, and listened to me 
preach from this text : ' Every one shall be salted 
with fire,' &c. , and from that time he ceased to whip 
him for his religion." 

Such are some of the incidents in the early life ot 
Joseph Carson. But few men have toiled longer or 
more successfully in the cause of Christ. For more 
than sixty years, he has stood as a watchman on the 
walls of Zion ; and yet he remains among us blessed 
with uncommon vigor and preaching with the zeal 
and fervor of his earlier years. He has seen the 
fathers one by one, pass away, and a new genera- 
tion of people and preachers grow up around him ; 
he has seen the Church which numbered not quite 
seventy-five thousand in the United States and Can- 
ada, swell her numbers to nearly two millions of 
Bouls. 

Perhaps no man now living has seen more of the won- 
derful works of God in the fields of Methodism than 
he ; and but few have been more highly honored of 
Christ as a successful preacher. Thousands of souls 
have been brought' to God through his instrumentality; 
happy multitudes await his coming to the heavenly 



494 MEMOEIALS OF METHODISM 

Canaan, wlio will hail him as their spiritual father. 
Calmly, like a veteran warrior, he awaits the com- 
mand to put aside his armor, and take the robe, the 
palm, the crown of a conqueror. He will reappear 
in many interesting scenes in the further progress of 
our narrative. 

The Conference for 1806 assembled at Norfolk on 
the 14th of February ; fourteen preachers w^ere 
received on trial ; nine deacons and two elders were 
elected and ordained ; seven located, none had died ; 
the membership was reported at 15,697 whites, and 
4,548 colored. The whole increase was 2,425. 

The deficiencies of the preachers amounted to 
1514.24 ; from the circuits the following collections 
were reported: Greensville, f 34.17 ; Mecklenburg, 
112.83 ; Brunswick, |13.12 ; Roanoke, $19.55 ; Cam- 
den, 16.13; Amelia, |5.20; from the Chartered Fund 
1150 ; from the Book Concern |300 ; the deficien- 
cies were more than met, and a small surplus left at the 
disposal of the Conference. Thirty-four appointments 
were reported ; 63 preachers were stationed. The 
Conference was favored with the presence of both 
the bishops, Asbury and "Whatcoat. Both E'orfolk 
and Portsmouth were blessed with a gracious revival 
during the session. The church in Norfolk was used 
for preaching at 11 o'clock, at three, and at night 
every day during the Conference ; the business ses- 
sions were held in an old wooden building on the lot 
adjoining the church, the school room of David 
Wright, the sexton. About forty persons were con- 
verted in each town during the meeting. An inci- 
dent is related of this revival which shows the con- 



IN VIRGINIA. 495 

troling power of grace in tlie human heart. One of 
the preachers had in his sermon given offence to a 
wicked man who supposed that special reference had 
been made to him in a very severe part of the dis- 
course. When the preacher came out of the Church 
the man approached, charged him with insulting him, 
and seizing his nose wrung it violently. The preacher 
simply raised his hat, made him a polite bow, and 
walked into the Conference-room. The man slunk 
away abashed, plunged deeper into crime, and in the 
course of the year died by his own hand. 

Of this Conference Asbury has a significant para- 
graph : *^ One member opposed all petitions from the 
people for Conference sittings ; he also condemned 
all epistles from the sister Conferences, as being too 
long and pompous, and as likely to make innovations. 
He dictated an epistle himself by way of example, to 
show how epistles ought to be written. The Com- 
mittee of Addresses wrote one, too, but it was re- 
jected, as being too much like that of the objecting 
member, whose epistle was rejected as being too 
much like himself; the Conference voted that none 
should be sent." '' Strange," adds the Bishop, ^Hhat 
such an affair should occupy the time of so many 
good men. Religion will do great things, but it does 
not make men Solomons." 

Asbury was gladdened by the cheering prospects of 
the work. **Wehad preaching," he says, *'morn, 
noon and night, large congregations and many souls 
engaged. "We have a rich supply of preachers for 
every circuit." 

Among the names that appear this year on the 



496 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

Minutes for the first time is that of BenjamiiiDevany, 
and after sixty years of ministerial toil this name still 
stands on the roll of our Conference. 

Benjamin Devany was born in Franklin county, 
Forth Carolina, on the 13th of March, 1788 ; he 
was converted in the fall of 1804 at a camp meeting 
held at a place called Partridge, in the same county. 
Having been admitted on trial, he was appointed to 
the Caswell circuit with Thomas Mann and Thomas 
Pinnell as his colleagues, and John Buxton as presi- 
ding elder. From a letter lying before us, we make 
some interesting extracts in reference to his early 
labors. 

** John Buxton was admitted on trial in the Vir- 
ginia Conference, in 1791, and was appointed to the 
Eichmond District in 1804. He was a consistent, 
holy man of God ; he was a little dictatorial in his 
ofiicial bearing ; he had a fine voice, was an excellent 
singer, and eloquent and fervent in prayer. His ser- 
mons were sometimes deficient in point, and he did 
not always observe the rule, ' not to preach too long, 
or too loud.' But for his long, disinterested, and 
faithful labors his name should be remembered and 
honored by the Church of his choice. I will here 
relate a little incident which took place on the Con- 
ference floor between him and John C. Ballew. He 
brought a complaint against the latter, but of what 
character I do not now recollect. "When he had 
stated his complaint and made such remarks as he 
thought pertinent, Ballew arose and replied, and in 
the close of his reply related an anecdote of a French- 
man, who ran out of bis house with a red hot poker 



IN VIRGINIA. " 49 Y 

in his hand, and said to a man who was passing, 
* Vat will you give me not to burn you V * I^Tothing,' 
said the man. * But vill you not pay me for heating 
ze poker?' said the Frenchman. *I^o, you have het 
the poker for nothing, and you may cool it for noth- 
ing,' was the reply. Ballew then said in his eccen- 
tric way, * Brother Buxton has ' het ' the poker for 
nothing, and he may cool it for nothing.' " 

In consequence of the sickness of Mann, the charge 
of the circuit devolved upon Pinnell, who was a very 
genteel young man, ^* and dressed well for that time, 
but was regarded by some as rather starchy for a 
Methodist preacher." 

** Caswell circuit was not one of the little laborious 
four week's circuits of the present day, with only four 
or six appointments ; but it was in reality what it pur- 
ported to be, a four weeks' circuit with but one rest 
day in each week." 

Two facts I will here mention, which, so far as 
they are concerned, go to show that the former days 
were better than the latter — first, the uniform atten- 
tion paid by the preachers to all the classes of their 
charge, and second, the members of the Church, and 
the people of the world, by their attendance at our 
week day appointments, showed that they more 
highly appreciated the Gospel than the people of the 
present day. It was a sad day for Methodism when 
our preachers so far compromised with the world as 
to neglect the meeting of the classes. [In this regret 
every true Methodist must concur.] A good many 
of our preaching places were in private houses, one 
of which was the residence of George Harris, the 



498 * MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

honored father of Fletcher, who was then fifteen or 
sixteen years old. Fletcher joined the Conference 
some years after, and distinguished himself as an 
ahle and eloquent preacher. He drew large crowds 
after him whenever he preached; but his brilliant 
sun soon went down in death. George Harris, by 
industry and economy, lived well, and was happy as 
the head of a Christian family. He devoted much 
of his spare time to the improvement of his mind, 
and especially prided himself on his knowledge 
of the dictionary. I remember an illustrative anec- 
dote of him and Edward Cannon, who succeeded me 
on this circuit. Cannon was a young man of pro- 
mise, had a good mind, a retentive memory, and at 
times disposed to be mischievous. After his first 
visit to Harris', he determined to match the old gen- 
tleman in some of his pompous talk. Accordingly 
for the next four weeks he studied his dictionary and 
collected as many big words as he thought would 
serve his purpose, and arranged them in sentences, 
to throw out to his old friend. Upon his next visit, 
when the services were over, they both went out into 
the porch, where the following dialogue took 
place : 

* • "Well, Brother Cannon, how have you been since 
I saw you ?" 

^^ Pretty well. Brother Harris, except a slight touch 
of lumbago." 

^* Lumbago — is that a proper word, Brother Can- 
non ?" 

**I reckon it is. Brother Harris." 



IN VIRGINIA. • 499 

" L-u-m-b-a-g-o, it can't be a proper word, Brother 
Cannon ; Fletcher, bring me the dictionary." 

Fletcher enters with the dictionary, and the word is 
found. 

**Well, I am astonished Brother Cannon that I never 
saw this word before." 

The triumph of Cannon was complete, and the 
mortification of Harris very great at being thus 
^^ stumped by a young man.'' 

We shall be able in the course of this narrative, to 
give the reader other pleasing incidents and sketches 
from the pen of this venerable and beloved father in 
Israel. The weight of more than threescore years 
and ten seems to rest lightly upon him, his spirit is 
fresh and strong, his piety pure and fervent, and his 
genial manners make him a favorite in every circle. 
"With his fellow veterans who yet linger in the field, 
he awaits the call to that city *Hhat hath foundations, 
whose builder and maker is God." 

The year 1806 was signalized by many glorious re- 
vivals within the limits of the Virginia Conference. 

At the numerous Camp Meetings the displays of 
Divine power were often so amazing as to strike ter- 
ror into the hearts of the unbelievers. 

At one of the meetings held at Hobb's Meeting 
House, in Brunswick county, there was a gracious 
outpouriug of the Spirit ; the Church was greatly 
revived and many sinners brought to God. Jesse 
Lee describes a singular case which he witnessed on 
this occasion: 

** On Sunday night a young woman fell down and 
lay helpless. They bore her to a tent, and she lay 
42 



500 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

helpless and speechless through the night. !N"ext 
morning I had a teaspoonful of water given her. 
About nine o'clock in the forenoon she revived and 
said, * Love, love, love ! Glory, glory, glory !' and 
then died away again, and appeared like a person 
in a sweet sleep. In the afternoon she was taken 
home in the same insensible state. Physicians 
were called in by her anxious parents, but they could 
not perceive that she had any bodily complaint, and 
believed her to be under the influence of supernatural 
power. They bled her but obtained only a few drops, 
they then applied a blister, but took it off in a little 
time. She lay in this condition until Tuesday night 
week, when she revived and spoke freely and sensi- 
bly, though in a very weak and feeble state. The 
next day she went about the house, and out of doors, 
j ust as she pleased, and was quite well and happy in 
God. She had been in that state for nine days and 
nights, and during all that time she ate nothing ex- 
cept such things as were poured into her mouth, and 
she took but very little of that. A greater part of 
the time she was sensible of everything done or said 
to her. For some days before she revived she knew 
all her friends that came to see her, and would an- 
swer any question by a nod or shake of the head, and 
in some cases would hold out her hand. When asked 
if she was happy, she would move her head by way 
of assent, and raise her eyes, and the tears would flow 
down her cheeks, which satisfied her friends that she 
w^as converted. When able to speak she said that the 
Lord had blessed her soul on the Monday after she 
was struck dovMi. at which time she spoke and shouted, 



IN VIRGINIA. 501 

*Love! love! love! Glory! glory! glory!' I saw 
her soon after she recovered from this ecstasy, and 
took her into Society, and had no doubt but she was 
truly happy in God. Many who saw her in her help- 
less condition were deeply affected, and some were 
brought to think seriously about their souls. Such a 
strange circumstance I do not remember to have 
known or read of before ; and yet there was nothing 
like a trance, or any particular discovery of the other 
world professed by her." 

At another Camp Meeting in the same county there 
was some success in the conversion of souls, but in 
the opinion of Lee the cause of truth was injured by 
the appearance of the Jerking, and other exercises, 
such manifestations being very uncommon in that 
section. 

**One circumstance," he says, '^contributed not a 
little to interrupt the harmony of the meeting, and 
retard the progress of the work, which was the wild 
enthusiasm displayed by a certain female not a mem- 
ber of our Church. Her exercises were such as to 
attract the attention of all present, and were of a 
character novel enough to do so ; for she exhibited 
at some times the jerking exercise, at others the 
dancing exercise, and not unfrequently the barking 
exercise ; and taking them altogether made as ridi- 
culous a set of exercises, as ever attracted the gaze 
of a multitude." 

In all ages of the Church, God has called some of 
his people to glorify him by sufferings. At one of 
Jesse Lee's preaching places he met a Christian whose 
case greatly excited his sympathy. 



602 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

<'Ithad been twenty years," he says, ** since he 
was on his feet. He is perfectly stiff from his head 
to his feet. He can move his toes, has a tolerably 
good use of one arm, and can use the other a little^ 
but cannot raise it to his head. He has the use of 
all his senses, but cannot move his head m any di- 
rection. He lies on his back continually, and has no 
power to change his posture, or to rest a weary limb. 
However, he has a hickory withe suspended over his 
bed, and by taking hold of it, he can raise himself 
and find a little relief and rest. He reads, sings, 
talks and shouts the praise of God with gi'eat solem- 
nity."^ 

This good man opened his ho"crse for the preaching 
of the gospel and was a happy illusti'ation of the 
power of grace to give peace and joy in the depths 
of affliction. How glad to him the stroke of death 
that broke his fetters, and gave him freedom to walk 
the golden streets of the T^e\\'* Jerusalem. 

Among many other places that were i^vored this 
year with revivals we may mention Fluvanna county^ 
one of the early fields of Methodism. 

The Rev. Allen R. Bernard has furnished us with a 
number of interesting and valuable reminiscences of 
the meetings which were held in that section of the 
State. 

*' In 1806 a gracious revival of religion occurred 
in Fluvanna county. A few years previous to this, 
John B. Magruder and George Jones, both local 
preachers, had removed from Maryland and settled in 
the county. In the early part of the summer of this 
year a Camp Meeting was held near the E"orth Gar- 



den, in Albemarle ; several persons attended this meet- 
ing from Fluvanna and were converted. 

They brought the revival fire with th-em from the 
Camp Meeting and at a single meeting held in the 
neighborhood of what is now Cunningham Church, 
the work was much extended; many were con- 
verted and gathered into the Church. Stith Mead 
was the Presiding Elder, and fully engaged in the 
work, assisted by a goodly company of zealous 
preachers, traveliing tand local:; among the former 
was Tliomas Anderson, a very popular preacher ; 
among the latter were John B. Magruder, G-eorge 
Jones, and l^athan Anderson, of Louisa. The re- 
vival extended from this meeting ; Cunningham Meet- 
ing House was built ; regular preaching was estab- 
lished at the Union, the manufacturing mill then, in 
course of erection, during the Summer ; in the Win- 
ter the congrega4>ion met at the residence of Brother 
Magruder, and many blessed meetings were held in 
that old mansion. 

In this revival precious fruits were gathered in 
many families, the Jones, Haydens, Flannagans, Ma- 
gruders, Wrenns, Eileys, Roes, my father''s an4 others. 
Mr. Magruder was a zealous preacher, and although 
engaged in extensive improvements was faithful in the 
work of the Lord. A few years after this, he died 
much regretted by a large circle of friends. His 
death was the means that God saw fit to sanctify to 
my awakening- I felt in view of his corpse, as I had 
never felt before, the deep importance of religion. 
Rev. George Jones was a zealous, holy man, preach- 
ing by precept and example. Rev, ITathan Anderson 
4^* 



504 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

was a man so devoted to the cause of God as to ren- 
der liis memory blessed. He liad two sons who be- 
came travelling preachers." 

Had . full records been preserved of all the glorious 
works wrought by the Spirit of God this year in Yir- 
ginia, and indeed, throughout the whole field of Meth- 
odism, we miglit linger amid scenes that would 
thrill every Christian heart ; but the record of the 
men who toiled to cultivate Immanuel's lands is not 
on earth ; it is in heaven. 

'' This was a prosperous year among the Metho- 
dists," says Jesse Lee, in his quiet way, "and the 
work of God was carried on in many places in an un- 
common manner, both in the conversion and sancti- 
fication of souls. Indeed, the work was so great that 
it appeared to be almost incredible among Christians 
themselves who had never seen anything to equal it 
before." 

On the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia 
the Camp Meetings surpassed anything of the kind 
that had ever been witnessed. At one of these 
meetings which continued five days and nights, one 
thousand souls were converted, at another a still greater 
number were gathered in. 

^'The account," says Jesse Lee, "was not merely a 
report, but was giv^en by ministers and people, who were 
eye and ear witnesses, and who had taken great pains 
to ascertain the exact number of those who had 
openly professed to be delivered from the burden of 
their sins." "There never was a time," he adds, 
" among the Methodists in any part of the United 



IN VIRGINIA. 505 

States, where so many professed to be converted in a 
few days, as there were at these meetings." 

The Quarterly Meetings in that section of the 
work were almost equal to Camp Meetings. ** It 
became quite common to begin them on Friday, and 
continue them until Sunday night or Monday fore- 
noon ; and for some hundreds of people to attend 
them in their wagons and carts, and with their tents ; 
and to lodge in the woods by the meeting houses 
while the meeting lasted. It appeared for a long time 
as if nothing could stand before the work of the 
Lord ; the faithful, fervent prayers of the saints 
seemed to bear down all before them. Ministers and 
people being happily united together, they strength- 
ened each other's hands in the Lord, and each felt 
wilhng to bear the other's burden, and so fulfil the 
law of Christ. The people were oft times awakened 
and brought to the knowledge of God in the course 
of the same day ; and some have been converted 
within a few hours from the time of their first awak- 
ening. Some who came to the meeting in the morn- 
ing quite careless and wicked, have gone away before 
night happy in God. Some would fall beneath the 
power of God as if they were struck dead, and then lie 
speechless and helpless for a short space, while their 
friends would pray for them ; and at last they would 
spring up of a sudden, and with a loud voice give 
praise to God for the pardon of their sins." 

The Virginia Conference of 1870 met at New 
Berne, North Carolina, on the 2d of February. Sev- 
enteen were admitted on trial ; fourteen were re- 
ceived into full connection, and ordained deacons; 



506 MEMORIALS OF MlTHODISM 

four were elected and ordained elders ; six located ; 
nine had died. 

The membership was reported at 17,735 whites 
and 5,668 colored; the increase was 3,158; this 
shows how general had been the revival throughout 
the Conference. 

The deficiencies of the preachers amounted to |l,- 
182.38; collected from all sources to meet these 
claims $1,020.28 ; of this sum, $300 were received 
from the Book Concern, $140.28 from the circuits, 
and the balance was made up of legacies and dona- 
tions. Of the amount collected, $200 were ordered 
to be paid into the Chartered Fund, leaving $820.28 
to be divided among the claimants. 

The number of appointments had been increased 
by dividing some of the larger circuits to thirty- 
eight ; the number of preachers stationed was sixty- 
seven. 

Of this session, Asbury writes: *^We have used 
great diligence in our Conference labors, and have 
been faithful to the pulpit. Much might be said. I 
will only observe that we have sixty- seven preachers 
and have added three thousand one hundred and fifty- 
nine to this Conference bounds ; we have since, on 
sitting here, known that there are twenty whites con- 
verted, and as many blacks. These blessings on our 
labors pay all our expenses, reward all toils in the 
midst of suffering and excessively cold weather." 

The following entry on the records of this Con- 
ference has reference to an anomalous measure pro- 
posed by the ]^ew York Conference for the purpose of 
strengthening the Episcopacy. 



IN VIRGINIA. 607 

** The l^cw York Conference having written a cir- 
cular letter to the several Annual Conferences, pro- 
posing a plan to strengthen the Superintendency, the 
letter was read in this Conference, and a vote w^as 
taken yesterday, ' shall we concur in the subject V 
Only seven were in favor of the motion. The sub- 
ject was called up again to-day, and a second vote was 
taken ; fourteen were in favor of it. It is therefore 
the decision of this Conference not to be concerned 
in it." 

The purport of this measure is thus given by Bangs, 
in his History of the Methodist Episcopal Church : 

*'This year [1806] a paper was submitted to the 
Annual Conferences, beginning with the Baltimore 
Conference, by Bishop Asbury, in favor of calling a 
General Conference of seven delegates from each 
Annual Conference, to meet in the city of Baltimore, 
in May, 1807, for the purpose of strengthening the 
Episcopacy. 

" This paper was referred to a committee to con- 
sider and report thereon, and all the Conferences 
except Yirginia reported in favor of the proposition, 
and elected their delegates accordingly. The report 
set forth that, in consequence of the declining health 
of Bishop "Whatcoat, who w^as then supposed to be 
near his end, the great extension of our work over 
the Continent, and the debilitated state of Bishop 
Asbury's health, it had become necessary to strengthen 
the Episcopacy, and likewise to provide for a more 
permanent mode of Church government. The re- 
port, therefore, recommended that each of the seven 
Annual Conferences should elect seven delegates to 



508 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

meet in the city of Baltimore the succeeding May, 
and that when so met, they should have power to 
elect one bishop or more, and also to provide for a 
future delegated General Conference, whose powers 
should be defined and limited by constitutional r-e- 
strictious ; for hitherto the General Conference pos- 
sessed unlimited powers over our enth-e economy, could 
alter, abolish, or add to any article of religion or any 
rule of discipline. As this depository of power was 
considered too great for the safety of the Church and 
the security of its government and doctrine ; and as 
the assembling of all the elders, few or many, at the 
option of each Annual Conference made the repre- 
sentation very unequal ; and moreover, if all came 
who had a right to a seat, involved a great amount 
of expense, time and money. Bishop Asbury was 
exceedingly desirous before he should depart hence 
to provide a remedy for these evils ; and this desire 
was strengthened and excited to action at this time by 
the concurrent views and wishes of most of the oldest 
preachers in the Conferences." 

This plan was not to take effect unless adopted by 
all the Annual Conferences. When presented to the 
Virginia Conferences it was vigorously opposed by 
Jesse Lee, and, as we have seen, received only four- 
teen votes. His view of the scheme is briefly given 
by himself : 

**In the course of the year 1806, there was a 
a plan laid which would have overset and destroyed 
the rules and regulations of the Methodists, respect- 
ing the election and ordination of Bishops. This 
plan was adopted by four of the Conferences^ viz ; 



IN vmonNiA. 609 

New York, New England, the Western and South 
Carolina Conferences, and delegates were accordingly 
chosen. But when it was proposed to the Virginia 
Conference they refused to take it under considera- 
tion, and rejected it as being pointedly in opposition 
to all the rules of our Church. The Bishop labored 
hard to carry the point, but he labored in vain ; arid 
the whole business of that dangerous plan was over- 
set by the Virginia Conference. The inventors and 
defenders of that project might have meant well, 
bat they certainly erred in judgment." 

Asbury makes no allusion to the defeat of this cher- 
ished scheme in his Journal. He simply says : 

"Much might be said;'' and passes on to do his 
great work as earnestly and as faithfully as if the 
Conference had fully concurred in all his measures. 
His delicacy and good sense were distinguishing fea- 
tures in his well balanced character. But he must 
have felt the failure of his plans the more keenly, inas- 
much as the recent death of Whatcoat had thrown 
upon him the whole burden of the Conference work. 
A feeble, and almost worn out old man, he yet stood 
up bravely under the load to which every year added 
greater weight. 

After '*a long ride of forty-two miles, " he writes, 
** we got a little fodder for our horses, and took a cut 
of dry bread on the cold round ourselves. My mind 
enjoys great peace ; and yet there are subjects that 
might disturb it, but I pass them over; I am not fond 
of hurting the feelings of people." Noble, generous 
old man ! The Wesley of America ! 

A brief notice of Asbury's eminent co-laborer in 



510 MEMORIALS i^F METHODISM 

the Episcopacy will not be out of place in our nar- 
rative. 

Richard Whatcoat, the third Bishop of the Amer- 
ican Methodist Church, was bom in Gloucestershire, 
England, in the year 1736, He was converted in his 
twenty-second year, and joined the Methodist Society 
at Wednesbury, famous for its furious mobs in tne 
early days of English Methodism, In this Society 
which was * * as ancient, well tried, greatly persecuted, 
and as respectable, according to the number of mem- 
bers, as any in the United Kingdoras," he remained 
a useful member for nine years. His gravity, sincer- 
ity, and simplicity, brought upon him the favorable 
notice of the leading members, and he was called to 
fill successively the offices of leader, steward, and local 
preacher. 

In 1769 he gave himself fully to the work of God, 
and was received into the British Conference as a 
travelling preacher. Fifteen years he labored with 
zeal and success in various parts of England, Ireland 
and Wales. 

At the Weslej'an Conference of 1784 he and 
Thomas Vasey responded to the call of their leader, 
and volunteered for the work in America. They 
were accepted by "Wesley and ordained as Presbyters 
to assist Dr. Coke in the organization of the Ameri- 
can Church. .They were present at the Christmas 
Conference, and assisted in the ordination of Asbury 
as a General Superintendent From this time What- 
coat fully identified himself with all the interests of 
American Methodism. 

The next sixteen years he spent chiefly as Presiding 



IN VIRGINIA. 511 

Elder, governing the Churches, directing the lahors ot 
the preachers, and everywhere exerting the happiest 
influence, by the gentleness, simplicity and fervor of 
his Christian life. For three years previous to his 
elevation to the Episcopacy, the Churches in Virginia 
were blessed with his faithful lahors on a district 
which embraced almost the entire scope of country 
between the James and Roanoke Eivers, and from the 
Blue Ridge to the Seaboard. 

*'0n this district," he says, **we passed through 
and touched on thirty counties in Yirginia and [N'oi'th 
Carolina ; it took me about six, or between that and 
seven hundred miles, to go through my district once 
in three months. "We had a great revival in several 
parts of this district. I filled up my time with a good 
degree of peace and consolation." 

At the General Conference of 1800 he was elected 
Bishop. In his new relation he showed the same 
ardor and self-denial for the cause of Christ that had 
marked his course for thirty years. His first episco- 
pal tour was in company with his venerable co-laborer, 
** through Connecticut, lN"ew York, ISTew Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee, to 
Bethel, in Kentucky, partly a south and south-west 
course of one thousand three hundred and twenty 
miles." 

Severe were the toils of these heroic old men in 
visiting and encouraging the infant Churches in the 
wilds of the West. 

*' The way we travelled," snys Whatcoat, *'from 
I^ashville to Knoxville was about two hundred and 
twenty miles, partly a south-east course , but it was 
43 



512 MEMOEIALS OF METHODISM 

trying to our delicate constitutions to ride through 
the rain a great part of the day, until late in the 
night, and then encamp on the wet ground, the wind 
and rain heating hard upon us." 

Of their journey from Knoxville to Augusta, he 
writes : * * We took nearly a south course of ahove 
three hundred miles? hut oh! what mountains and 
rocks we had to pass over ! When we came within 
a few miles of the Hot Springs, Bishop Ashury got 
a friend to lead his horse ; but the road being rough 
and narrow, the horse stumbled or started, and turned 
the sulky bottom upward, between the Paint Rock 
and French Broad River ; but the horse lay quietly 
on his back until we released the harness ; the car- 
riage rested against a large sapling, which supported 
it from going down into the river." 

On their return to Baltimore in May, 1801, the 
bishops estimated the extent of their circuit at ^ 'about 
four thousand one hundred and eighty-four miles ;" 
in this vast and toilsome journey they '* had the 
pleasure of seeing and hearing that pure and undefiled 
religion was spreading in a general way, and that in 
some places it was extraordinary." This rate of 
travel was the annual work of these godly men, 
besides all their preaching and Conference work. 
Writing of another year's labors, Whatcoat says : "In 
the last twelve months I have travelled about three 
thousand seven hundred and seven miles, and in the 
sixty-seventh year of my age, though I have had 
considerable afflictions which have greatly shaken this 
house of clay." 

In doing the work of a bishop this excellent man 



IN YIRGINIA. 513 

6 

fully met tlie expectations of Ms brethren who had 
raised him to this high office. In meekness, mod- 
esty, humility, simplicity and purity, he was a bright 
example to the Church of Christ. His amiable and 
serene spirit remained unruffled in the midst of all 
commotions ; his firmness, combined with a singular 
softness of manner, was equal to every emergency in 
the difficult task of governing churches and Confer- 
ences, while the steady flame of love that burned 
in his saintly soul shed its blessed light on preachers 
and people as he moved among them a leader of the 
hosts of Israel. 

A characteristic anecdote is related of him and 
Asbuiy. The latter was complaining on a certain 
occasion of the great annoyance of so much com- 
pany. "Whatcoat listened with meekness and defer- 
ence, and then mildly replied: ** 0, Bishop, how 
much worse we should feel if we were entirely neg- 
lected." Asbury instantly thanked him for the 
reproof, and for the manner in which it was admin- 
istered. 

In a funeral discourse, Asbury bore the following 
testimony to the character of his colleague and 
friend : 

**He had known Eichard Whatcoat from his own 
age, of fourteen to sixty -two years, most intimately, 
and had tried him most accurately in the soundness 
of his faith, in the doctrine of universal depravity, 
and the complete and general atonement ; the insuf- 
ficiency of either moral or ceremonial righteousness 
for justification, in opposition to faith alone in the 
merit and righteousness of Christ ; the doctrine of 



514 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

regeneration and sanctification ; Ms holy manner of 
life, in duty, at all times, in all places, and before all 
people, as a Christian and as a minister ; his long 
suffering — a man of great affliction of body and 
mind — having been exercised with severe diseases and 
great labors — but this did not abate his charity, his 
love of God and man, in all its effects, tempers, 
words and actions ; bearing with resignation and 
patience great temptations, bodily labors, and inex- 
pressible pain ; in life and death placid and calm ; a& 
he lived so he died, " 

In the obituary published in the General Minutes, 
and doubtless written by Asbury, his character is 
thus drawn: ^^We will not use many words to des- 
cribe this almost inimitable man ; so deeply serious ! 
Who ever saw him light or trifling ? Who ever 
heard him speak evil of any person ? nay, who ever 
heard him speak an idle w^ord? Dead to envy, pride, 
and praise. Sober without sadness, cheerful without 
levity, careful without covetousness, and decent with-, 
out pride. He died not possessed of property suffi- 
cient to have paid the expenses of his sickness and 
funeral, if a charge had been made ; so dead was he 
to the world ! 

" Although he was not a man of deep erudition, yet 
probably he had as much learning as some of the apos- 
tles and primitive bisbops, and doubtless sufficient for 
the work of the ministry ; he was deeply read in the word 
of God. His knowledge of the Scriptures was so great, 
that one of his friends used to call him his concordance. 
He gave himself greatly to reading. Notwithstand- 
ing he was called to tbe office of an overseer at an 



IN VIRGINIA. 515 

advanced period of life, he magnified Ms office by 
travelling annually toee or four thousand miles 
through all the United States. 

" He hath proved himself worthy of the affection 
and confidence of the Methodist Connection in Eu- 
rope and America. But we cannot in a few lines 
speak his Christian and ministerial excellencies. In- 
deed, they cannot be fully enumerated, for the man'of 
deep piety frequently will not let his left hand know 
what his right hand doeth. He professed the justi- 
fying and sanctifying grace of God, and all that knew 
him well might say, if any man on earth possessed 
these blessings, surely it was Kichard "Whatcoat." 

As a preacher he is said to have been attractive, inter- 
esting, instructive and deeply impressive. His sermons 
were ^'generally attended with a remarkable unction 
from the Holy One. ■ Henco those who sat under his 
word if they were believers m Christ, felt that it was 
good to be there, for his doctrines distilled as the dew 
upon the tender herb, and as the rain upon the mown 
grass. The softness of his p.ersuasions won upon 
the affections of the heart, while the rich flow of 
gospel truth which came from his lips enlightened the 
understanding.'^ 

As the character of this modest and saintly man 
has been somewhat slighted in the biographical lite- 
rature of American Methodism, the reader will par- 
don the introduction of a more complete portrait, 
drawn by one who knew him long and loved him 
well. 

** Bishop Whatcoat's personal appearance was in- 
teresting ; so much so as to invite and please the good 
43* 



516 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and wise. The form of bis body was genteel and 
grave ; bis soul comprebensive, vigorous, noble, great 
and active ; bis presence and aspect smootb and plea- 
sant, yet solemn — often striking reverence and awe 
into the minds and deportment of sucb as looked 
upon him, especially when exercising the offices of bis 
function. 

<* I may say of him as was said of Basil, 'that so 
much divine majesty and lustre appeared in him, it 
made the wicked tremble to behold,' and in like man- 
ner this most exact and holy man's solemn deport- 
ment was such as to command respect. In him were 
seen majesty and love — well expressed by the fol- 
lowing lines : 

•' Shall I not again on earth behold 

That countenance, so grave, so bold, 

Which, with a look could daunt the face of sin, 

And make offense to hide itself within ? 

Most perfect image of the God above 1 

Without was majesty, within was love ; 

One drawn with sweetness by an infant's hand, 

Not driven by violence, or base command." 

His whole deportment was so beautiful and so rich'y 
adorned with personal graces, that ot him may be 
said, as of one of the old Puritans, 'He was made ot 
love.' 

*'His amiable, heavenly and courteous carriage was 
such as to make him the delight of his acquaintances, 
and to prepare them for the reception of his counsels 
and reproofs. 

" His compassion for man in a lost condition — ^bis 
acts of charity to those in want — his tenderness for 
Bucb as were culpable — ^his affectionate language and 



IN VIRGINIA. 517 

bearing in the exercise of his ministry — and his love 
were set forth in his ardent longings after the souls of 
his hearers. His rejoicings in their spiritual pros- 
perity — ^his bleedings and heart-breakings for their 
backslidings — ^his labors among them both public, and 
from house to house, his frequent and affectionate let- 
ters to them when absent — his earnest desire to spend 
and be spent for them, always evinced what share 
they had in his affections. 

He was a man of fortitude ; he appeared to fear no 
danger where duty was plain, (as his labors and trou- 
bles showed) believing that he who walks uprightly 
walks safely, though he * pass through the valley and 
shadow of death.' He feared not the face of man ; 
but where there was just occasion, he would boldly 
admonish and faithfully reprove what he saw amiss; 
but with so much prudence, and with such words of 
love and tenderness as made their way to the heart, 
and gave him great success in winning souls to his 
heavenly Master. 

Bishop Whatcoat was a man of peace and a great 
peace-maker among his brethren where dissensions 
arose from want of sober and peaceable principles. 
He had a reverent esteem for the laws of the country, 
abhorring all insolent expressions or mutinous actions, 
keeping by him a copy of the laws of the State where 
his labors were directed, so that he might not violate 
them in any of his sacred functions, whereby the gos- 
pel might be blamed. He also kept a manuscript of 
the municipal laws, so that he might know how to 
act in every place, and keep himself unspotted from 
the world. 



518 ^MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

^*He was a great lover of truth and righteousness 
ill his own practice, and a great presser of them on 
his hearers, especially upon religious professors, ex- 
horting them to be just in all their doings, and true 
ill their words ; to be cautious in promising, and 
Tjunctual in performing ; sharply reproving promise 
breakers and deceitful dealers. 

" He was anxious for the conversion of sinners and 
for the success of the gospel. To promote this end he 
poured out his soul in prayer and preaching. He 
imparted not only the word, but himself as it were, 
to his hearers. His supplications and exhortations 
were so affectionate, so full of holy zeal and power, 
as to greatly move his auditors, and melt them into 
tears and penitential sorrow ; but not by vain repe- 
titions, crude expressions, unintelligible sense, or 
mysterious nonsense in place of prayer. His spirit 
v/as serious, his gestures reverent, his words well 
suited, well weighed, pithy, solid, and truly expres- 
sive of his truly humble and fervent desire after the 
things he asked. He was nigh to God, as became a 
creature overawed by the majesty of his Creator. He 
prayed with the spirit and the understanding, with 
faith, fervency, and humble importunity — his affec- 
tions working, but rationally as well as strongly, by 
which he prevailed with his Redeemer and on his 
hearers. He set God always before him, and where- 
ever he was, he labored to walk as in his presence. 
His main desire in all things was to study to ^ show 
himself approved of God the Father, who seeth in 
secret and rewardeth openly ;' and to keep a con- 
science void of offense both to God and man. 



IN VIRGINIA. 519 

Much of his time he spent in private devotion and 
converse with Christ and his own soul, delighting in 
secret prayer and retirement, that he might freely use 
his voice to his heavenly Father." 

*' His deportment was such, as if every moment 
he saw Christ, and had God's law, his own conscience, 
and covenant with the Holy Spirit, and the day of 
judgment before his eyes. 

" When he awoke in the night, he was in medi- 
tation or prayer, exulting and praising God like Paul 
and Silas, speaking to himself in spiritual songs, 
making melody in the heart with grace. 

*' This holy man was sent to the Church as if for a 
sample, to show what a life of peace and holiness 
Christians may attain on earth, where sincerity, pri- 
vation, diligence, watchfulness, love of divine com- 
munion, and humble and active faith do meet and 
center." 

*^My first journey with him," says the same 
writer, *'was over the Alleghany Mountains to the 
frontiers of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. I 
found him so fixed in the ways of God that nothing 
could disengage him or move his patience, so as to 
make him murmur in the least degree. He was nevei 
wearied with fatigue of riding or of preaching, so as 
to make him abate his private devotions ; but after 
lecturing and praying several times a day in public, 
on retiring he poured out his soul before he laid his 
body to rest, by which means he was ever ready to 
sound forth the hi^h praises of his gracious Redeemer 
at all times and on all occasions. His tours through 
the backwoods were very dangerous ; the Indians were 



520 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

not then at peace with the United States, but remained 
hostile and made frequent incursions and destroyed 
many families, as well as single persons, wherever they 
met them ; so that some whom he preached to and 
baptized in those parts, were killed and scalped a 
few weeks after. I think not less th^m seventy were 
miserably mangled and killed within a year and a 
half, in and about their own houses. 

' Whatcoat appeared to be the same at all times and 
under all circumstances ; to be as calm in the wilds 
as in the cultivated fields— in the smoky cabin as in 
the carpeted parlor — amidst the clamors of untoward 
children, where he was detained during the mountain 
storm, or flood of rain that had raised the rivers so 
that they could not be forded. 

**His voluntary labors and travels in America 
proved his strong attachment to the Redeemer's cause 
and an itinerant life. He refused honor, worldly 
gain, and worldly pleasure which were strewed at his 
feet. He refused all and preferred feeding the lambs 
of Jesus Christ, and calling sinners to repentance to 
all the glories of the world. "Wearing himself out 
to give light and heat unto others, he allowed himself 
little rest ; he rose at ^yq m the morning wherever 
he was, even in winter, that having communed first 
with his Sovereign he might be early at his studies, 
and well prepared to declare the accepted time of the 
Lord and the day of salvation. His moderation was 
known to all who kne>v him. In all things he showed 
himself a pattern — in piety, in doctrine, and in zeal 
he was a living witness of all he taught to others. 

"He departed this life at Governor Bassett's house, 



IN YIRGINIA. 521 

at Dover, State of Delaware, among the wise and 
great. In his death he showed how a Christian 
coild die. Many saw him in his severe affliction 
and extreme pain, which he bore for thirteen weeks 
without murmuring or complaining. They saw that 
he was privileged far above the common walks of vir- 
tuous life, his mind being in heaven before it got its 
discharge from the body ; his heavenly admonitions 
are still fresh in the minds of some who are in the world 
as witnesses of his victory over the fear of death on 
the 5th of June, 1806. As in his life and death he 
left us such a glorious privilege in his example, can 
any heart refuse its tribute of gratitude and praise to 
that God in whose service he spent his life." 

The names of Edward Cannon and John Early are 
the most conspicuous of those who were received on 
trial at the Virginia Conference of 1807. 

Cannon rose rapidly as a preacher. His high order 
of intellect, his ministerial ability, and his eminently 
pure moral character, made him a man of mark in 
the Church. He was a sound and deep theologian, 
firm in his principles and decided in his opinions. 
His great self-possession kept him calm amid all the 
changes of life around him. Ha was a member of 
the General Conferenuxss, of 1816 and 1820, and at 
the last named session was the author of the resolu- 
tion proposing the suspension of the rule making the 
Presiding Elders elective by the Annual Conferences, 
until the ensuing General Conference. 

Worn down by twenty-six years of hard toil in the 
itinerant field, seven of which he spent on large and 
laborious districts; he departed to the rest of heaven. 



522 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

In his last moments lie bore testimony to the truths 
he had preached to others, saying with Benson : 
"^ "We must now go back to first principles; " and ** if 
I were not now a converted man, I conld not become 
one." The memory of Edward Cannon is still cher- 
ished by many of the older Methodists in Virginia 
and IlTorth Carolina, who remember him as one of the 
most faithful, holy and useful men that ever lived and 
labored among them. 

The name of John Early has "been as familiar as a 
household word among American Methodists for the 
last fifty years. Since the death of Bishop Soule, 
perhaps no man among us is more fully acquainted 
with the history and achievements of Methodism du- 
ring that period than this eminent minister. 

He was born in Bedford county. Virginia, January 
1st, 1786. His parents were mem'oers of the Baptist 
Church, in affluent circumstances, and occupying a 
high social position. He was converted under the 
ministry of Rev. Stith Mead, at Flat Rock Church, 
Bedford, now Campbell county, April 22nd, 1804. 
He soon united with the Methodists, and his youthful 
zeal found scope in the subordinate offices of the 
Church, which he>filled with signal usefulness. One 
of the scenes of his early labors was the largo estate 
of President Jefferson, many of whose slaves tl'O 
young preacher instructed and led to Christ. In 
April, 1806, he w^as licensed to preach and was em- 
ployed by the Presiding Elder on Bedford circuit. 
He preached his first sermon at Wilson's Church, and 
when he entered the pulpit, the tears he had shed 
on parting with his loved ones at home were frozen 



IN VIRGINIA. 523 

on his overcoat. He spent the balance of the year 
in earnest labors on this circuit, and at its close gave 
himself to the fall work of the itinerancy. From 
this work he has never turned aside. His labors were 
greatly blessed in the various fields of toil. In 
Greensville he received five hundred members into 
the Church. At a famous Camp Meeting held by him 
at Prospect, Prince Edward county, while Presiding 
Elder of the Meherrin District, it is said that in seven 
days about one thousand persons professed conver- 
sion. Under a sermon delivered by him at that 
meeting on the words, **Andif it bear fruit, well; 
and if not, then after that thou shall cut it down," to 
an audience of three thousand, not more than a hun- 
dred remained unmoved. 

His administrative talents attracted the notice of 
Bishop Asbury, and he was called to the office of 
Presiding Elder, after he had travelled only seven 
yeara. He was offered various civil appointments 
by difl[:*erent Presidents, but declining them all, he 
labored as a man of one work. He felt that he was 
doing a great work and could not come down. 

Possessing a physical frame of wonderful powers 
of endurance, he has been able to do the full vvork of 
an itinerant preacher for almost sixty years. AVith a 
mind bold, strong, clear and comprehensive, he has 
gathered a vast fund of knowledge in reference to 
all the practical operations of Methodism ; he is in- 
deed a living encyclopedia of all facts, precedents and 
examples which have occurred in the Church, since 
he first took his seat in an Annual Conference. In 
this respect he is invaluable as a guide, in the discus- 
U 



524 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM ^ 

sion of many questions that must be determined by 
the lights and usages of other days. In every de- 
partment to which the Church has called him, he has 
served with zeal, success, and undeviating devotion 
to all her interests. As a circuit preacher. Presiding 
Elder, Conference Missionary, College Agent, Book 
Agent and now in the high office of Bishop, he has 
shown himself to be a man ready for every good 
work. Activity, constant, untiring activity, is a law 
of his being. E"or does the weight of years seem to 
burden him as it does other men ; he is still erect in 
form, elastic in his tread, entertaining in conversation, 
forcible in preaching, wise in counsel, fervent in 
spirit, watchful over the Church of God, and burning 
with a holy zeal in the sacred work to which he has 
given his cheerful toil from the days of his youth. 

In the Virginia Conference there are three men 
who are the remaining links that connect us with the 
age of the fathers, John Early, Benjamin Devany 
and Joseph Carson. May their last days be as full 
of the peaceable fruits of righteousness, as their lives 
have been full of all good works in the service of 
Christ. 

In reference to the general prosperity of the Churches 
in Virginia this year, we have no. reliable information. 
We however, feel quite sure that the reader will be 
entertained by the following extracts from the per- 
sonal narratives of Messrs. Devany and Carson. 

**I was ordained Deacon," says the latter, *^ at the 
Baltimore Conference of 1807, by Bishop Asbury. 
The old Bishop said he intended, 'to warn Baltimore 
faithfully at this Coiift^rence.' He therefore engaged 



IN VIRGINIA. 525 

every church in the city (except the Roman' Catholic) 
and every Market House, to have preaching in on the 
Sahbath. In the morning I preached in Light Street 
Church, and in the afternoon in one of the Markets j 
here, there was a great deal of interest manifested ; 
the butcher's block on which I stood was surrounded 
with penitents, and several were converted. From 
this Conference I was sent to Staunton circuit; it was 
a two weeks' circuit with thirteen appointments' and 
emhraced all of Augusta, part of Rockingham, and 
part of Rockhridge counties. Here I had an oppor- 
tunity of seeing something of that singular affection 
called the Jerks. I have known ladies to attend church 
without bonnets, or combs in their hair ; and I have 
positively seen them jerk so violently that their hair 
would crack like a whip. I have seen persons jerked 
over ground which was rocky and full of stumps, and 
wonderful to tell, they were never hurt. They would 
always heg not to he held or touched while thus af- 
fected, saying that it caused great pain. I had heard 
that this strange affection could be produced simply 
hy pronouncing the word jerk with emphasis, but I 
did not believe it ; for I was incredulous with regard 
to the whole thing at first, and I determined to prove 
it. I was one evening with a young lady who was 
wild and frolicsome, and I thought she was a very good 
subject for my experiment. In the course of con- 
versation I introduced the word, strongly empha- 
sizing it ; the influence seemed to be electric, for in 
one moment she was jerking powerfully. She ran 
to the door, but just as she would raise the latch, a 
jerk would throw her midway the floor; she was 



526 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM ^ 

finally jerked under the bed, when the rattling of some 
carpenter's tools warned us that that was an unsafe 
place for her, so in spite of her entreaties we had to 
take hold of her. 

This was my first experiment with the jerks and it 
was perfectly satisfactory. I never met with this affection 
elsewhere, except in Greenbrier circuit, a year or two 
after this, and there it was worse, if possible, than in 
Staunton." 

After remaining on this circuit a few months he 
was transferred to Harrisonburg. He continues: **In 
Harrisonburg we had a good church, but it was not 
then a station with only two or three appointments ; 
it extended to within thirty miles of "Winchester, 
embracing Shenandoah and the larger part of Rock- 
ingham. 

Dr. Harrison, the father of the late Professor Gess- 
ner Harrison, then lived in the place, and was one of 
our most useful men ; he had been a member of the 
Church for six years, but though scrupulously con- 
sistent, and by all regarded as a pattern of piety, he 
had never been satisfied of his conversion. There 
being no leader for the class, I determined to appoint 
him to that ofiice, though assured by all his friends 
that he would not serve. Meeting him on the street 
one day, I said to him : ' Doctor, I have appointed 
you leader of the class in this place ;' he looked 
amazed, but consented to take the commission. Tlie 
first time he met the class he said to them : * Brother 
Carson has made me your leader, and I will do the 
best I can for you ; for though you know I do not 



i 



I 



IN VIRGINIA. 

profess to be converted, I know the way, and can tell 
you how you ought to walk.' 

He gave them a warm exhortation, and while thus 
employed, became very happy ; and clapping lus 
hands exclaimed, * Blessed be God ! I know I am 
converted now !' and I believe that he was no more 
troubled with doubts on this score," 

This excellent man served the Church for many 
years, and was equally eminent as a physician and a 
Christian. 

We have been favored with an interesting sketch 
of a field of labor which the preachers of the Vir- 
ginia Conference have always regarded as a *'hard 
circuit." <* At the Conference of 1807," says Eev. 
B. Devany, **my appointment was read out for 
Mattamuskeet and Banks, with John Gibbons and 
John Humphries as my colleagues. The Conference 
over, I went to the town of Washington, North Car- 
olina, and as there was no communication by land 
to my isolated field of labor, I disposed of my horse, 
and obtained a passage in a small decked craft which 
was used for inland navigation On this I embarked 
with scarcely a hope that I should ever return again. 
The cabin was so small and uncomfortable that the trip 
was anything but pleasant, especially to one who was on 
his first sea voyage. We landed at Mattamuskeet, on 
Sunday morning in time to reach the Church before 
the hour for service. My feelings now could be much 
more easily imagined than described. The flat, rich, 
alluvial soil, and the sickly appearance of the inhab- 
itants, but confirmed me in my fears that I should 
never again see my native hills ! But fortunately 
44* 



528 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

for US, by a law of our nature, we may accommodate 
ourselves to the circumstances that surround us. I 
was kindly received by the people, soon became 
reconciled to my lot, and spent a pleasant year among 
them. 

"On this isolated spot lived a local preacher, Frede- 
rick Roper. He married and settled here after trav- 
elling a few years. He was a good preacher, a con- 
sistent Christian, and exercised a commanding influ- 
ence as a minister. There was but one church on 
this place, but we preached at several other places in 
private houses. Environed by the Pamlico Sound 
and the Dismal Swamp, and well nigh shut out from 
the rest of the world, the people here were very de- 
ficient in literary and moral culture. 

"From Mattamuskeet we crossed the Sound, which 
is twenty-five or thhty miles wide, to the chain of 
banks lying between the Sound and the Ocean. 
Portsmouth Island lies south of Ocracoke Inlet, and 
was the most pleasant place in this whole chain of 
banks. The society was more refined and intelligent 
in consequence of the occasional visits of some of 
the families to the town of l^ew Berne, and their 
daily intercourse with the shipping which anchored 
off near the place. The settlement on the north side 
of the inlet derives its name from the inlet, and is, 
Fettled principally by pilots. The men were generally 
intemperate and indolent, lying about the beacon or 
iookout, basking in the sun like so many alligators, 
while their wives and daughters were at home grind- 
ing corn or picking up wood for culinary purposes. 
From this place we proceeded north through the set- 



IN visaiNiA. 529 

tlements, preaching the gospel to the people mpriTate 
houses, to Chickamacomac, the tet settlement on 
this chain of banks. From this point we crossed 
over to Roanoke Island. The church here, and the 
one in Mattamuskeet, were the only two embraced in 
this large and romantic field of labor. The manners 
and customs of the bankers were pretty much the 
same. Shut out as they were from all the worH, and 
deprived of the advantages of education, and inter- 
course with refined society, they were to a great ex- 
tent brought up in ignorance and licentiousness^ We 
held a Camp Meeting on the banks at a j^ace called 
Kinnekute ; it was the first ever held in that region, 
and we had a profitable time. 

**The musketoes were a very great annoyance to 
man and beast, both by day and by night. When 
the weather was pleasant, I was in the habit of taking 
my umbrella and books and repairing to the seashore 
that I might read and study in some peace. At night 
I often slept in the same room with the family, with 
an iron pot in the middle of the room, in which a 
smoke was kept up during the night as a protection 
against these pestiferous insects. The year being 
closed, I had then, as the preachers used to say, 
graduated on the Banks." 

In this uncongenial soil and among these rude 
people, Methodism was planted by the untiring zeal 
of such godly men as the venerable author of the 
above extract. He was permitted to look upon the 
rich harvests which had sprung from the seed scat- 
tered by him and his co-laborers. More than twenty 
years after the close of his collegiate course on the 



530 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Banks, he returned to the same field as presiding 
elder. Of his later visits he says : ** When I went 
among them I was quite astonished and much de- 
lighted to see the intellectual, moral, and physical 
improvement which had been made in the course of 
twenty odd years. 

**The land, which is the richest I ever saw, was 
well drained and cultivated; and along the road, 
which runs upon the margin of the lake, could be 
seen large fields of this rich, alluvial soil, waving in 
the most luxuriant growth of Indian corn." 

The Conference for 1808 met at Lynchburg on the 
2nd of February. The journey of Asbury through 
the Piedmont region of Korth Carolina, in order to 
meet the Conference in time, was one of much toil 
and exposure. He had mingled feelings of sadness 
and joy as he rode rapidly on, preaching wherever he 
could assemble the people. In the house of an old 
Methodist where He lodged, his spirit was greatly 
grieved with the ungodly children, especially one who 
had fallen from grace. At his next resting-place he 
almost rejoiced that there were no children to turn 
away from the God of their fathers. *^ I endure con- 
siderable pain," he writes : " my beast starts and 
stumbles. The perpetual changes of weather, and 
the company sometimes forced upon one on the road, 
is disagreeable ; but it is much worse in the cabins 
crowded with men, women and children — no place to 
retire for reading, writing or meditation ; the woods 
are too cool for solitude at this season." And yet in 
the midst of all these disagreeable scenes, he spent 
every moment of quiet he could secure in *^ reading. 



IN VIRGINIA. 5S1 

writing, praying and planning." KeacMng Bedford 
county, he ** visited brothers Leftwich and Wheat, 
and then made a toilsome march over Little and 
Big Otter, about thirty miles to Price's." Resting 
here but one day, be pushed on and reached Lynch- 
burg on Saturday. On Sunday he preached to about 
six hundred hearers, and felt paid for all his toil. The 
Conference was opened on Tuesday and continued in 
session until Saturday. * ' We progressed with great 
speed," says Asbury, " and in good order, preaching 
each day." Eighteen were received on trial ; nine 
were ordained elders ; eleven ordained deacons in 
the travelling connection, and nine in the local ranks, 
^YQ located, none had died. 

The preachers were deficient in their salaries $978.- 
12 ; the whole amount to meet this from all sources 
was $592.43. In view of the small sums received 
from the circuits for this fund, the Conference passed an 
order * 'that no assistant preacher, who does not make 
a collection in his circuit, and bring it to the Annual 
Conference shall have any demand on the Confer- 
ence for his deficiency." 

The numbers were reported at 18,169 whites, and 
5,834 colored ; the increase was 600. 

The Conference spent the afternoon of the last day 
of its session * * in serious and useful conversation on 
dress, private prayer, family prayer, rising early, 
quarterly meetiugs, camp meetings, class meetings, 
fasting, love feasts, sacraments, quarterly meeting 
Conference, their record books, the marriage 
rule,'' &c. 

In the Minutes of this year it is for the first time 



532 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

recorded that *'the appointments of the preachers 
were read out, and then Conference adjourned until 
Conference in course." 

It has heen seen that the attenapt to call a General 
Conference had heen defeated hy the Virginia Con- 
ference. At this session a memorial was presented 
from the Kew York Conference, urging the necessity 
of constituting the General Conference a representa- 
tive legislative council. To such a measure the Vir- 
ginia Conference could have no objection, and the 
memorial was agreed to with scarcely a dissenting 
voice. 

Dr. L. M. Lee, in the ^^Life and Times of Jesse 
Lee," narrates one or two characteristic anecdotes of 
his venerable kinsman, in connection with this 
Conference. 

Lynchburg in those days was a town of unpaved 
streets, and they were sometimes nearly impassible. 

**In retui'mng from the Conference room one day, 
Jesse Lee, having some business on the opposite side 
of the street along which he was passing, was sadly 
puzzled to find a crossing place. After a fruitless 
search he paused, and was gravely debating with him- 
self whether he should ford the street, *knee deep 
in mud,' or abandon the object of his pursuit. In 
this mood of mind, John Charleson, a stout athletic 
negro, a preacher, and a great admirer of Mr. Lee, 
came up and took part in the consultation. Ascer- 
taining the difficulty in the case, he proposed to over- 
come it by taking Mr. Lee across on his back. The 
profi'er was instantly agreed to, and he mounted the 
back of his generous friend. Two hundred and fifty- 



IN TIRGINIA, 533 

nine pounds of living flesh is no small burden for 
one man to bear, but John bore it till he reached the 
middle of the street, where he paused to overcome 
the attraction of gravitation, by shaking his burden 
higher up on his shoulders. Perspiration stood in 
large beads upon his face, and he groaned audibly. 
But he staggered on, paused, and drily asked his 
rider if he might not set him down and rest a spell. 
Gathering up his strength for another effort, he 
pressed, on, but turning up the corner of his eye until 
it reached the face of Mr. Lee, he groaned out, * Oh, 
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from 
this body of death !' Quick as thought the response 
came, * You do groan, being burdened.' And he 
was burdened. But dry land was reached, and 
with mutual pleasure they pursued their walk side by 
side."* 

♦John Charleson was at that time the slave of Rev. StithMead 
with whom he often travelled in the capacity of servant and 
preacher. We find the following account of this really good and 
useful man in Mead's journal: 

♦' At a Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in the city of Richmond, called by the Rev. StithMead, presiding 
elder of the Richmond District, Virginia CoEference, for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining the number of years Brother John Charleson, 
a man of color, should serve Stith Mead, for the sum of one hun- 
dred and ten pounds, which he, the said Mead has given, as appears 
to us from a bill of sale now before us, executed by the Rev. 
Josep h Cross to the said Mead. That the said John Charleson is 
to serve Stith Mead seven years in consideration of the above 
sum of one hundred and ten pounds from the date hereof. Signed 
by the Conference this eight day of March, one thousand eight 
hundred and six. 

To be entered upon the journals of the Church book. 

Enoch Sullivan, 
A. Foster, 
David McMasters, 
John Ellis, 
Philip Courtney, 
James Coulling, 



534 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Dr. Lee is also responsible for the following: 
" The Virginia Conference, it is well known, was 
for many years a band of inveterate and invincible 
old bachelors. When a member married he seemed 
to think that unless he could justify the act, he naust 
lose caste among his brethren. A case of the kind 
came up at this Conference ; the brother admitted 
the impeachment and gave his reasons very seriously 
for choosing no longer ^* to be alone." He had made 
it a subject of serious reflection, he had consulted ju- 
dicious brethren, and lastly he had made it a matter 
of earnest prayer, and had reached the conclusion 
that, in view of all the circumstances, he ought to 
marry ; and therefore he had married. There being 
no law prohibiting marriage, his statements were gra- 
tuitous. ^'Butit provoked the pleasantry of Mr. 
Lee, and slowly rising from his seat, he said he was 
afraid the brother had fallen into a mistake ; he had 
been in that way himself and would like to tell his ex- 
perience : * I once thought I ought to marry, and I 
thought a great deal about it too. And I thought I 
must pray about it ; but somehow or other I always 
found myself praying, * Lord, let thy will be done, 
but do let me have the woman!' I wanted the woman 
and my prayers always ended there. Perhaps the brother 

In a note appended to this, dated 1832, Mead adds: 
" John Charleson is recorded free in the clerk's office of Camp- 
bell county, Virginia, as he was a preacher in the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, of good talents and piety. I opened a subscription 
to raise the amount of his purchase money, and procured his liberty 
in about half the term of years he was to serve. He is yet alive, 
about 67 years of age, and above 40 years a preacher of the gospel 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has many seals to his 
ministry both white and colored." 



IN VIRGINIA. 535 

wanted the woman, and she and the Lord were will- 
ing, but they both opposed me !' The cheerful laugh 
that followed this relation of personal experience may 
have derived much of its zest from a consciousness of 
its general applicability to such cases." 

No sooner had the Conference closed than Asbury 
was again in the saddle and on the road. His route 
lay through the Piedmont counties toward the Po- 
tomac. 

* * We rode," he says, ' 'twenty-four miles through mire 
and heavy a cold rain, crossing the Eapidan to John 
Stockdale's. Our host made us comfortable after our 
toil. By deep wading and plunging through mud, 
we reached Lott Fry's. I ordained him a Deacon. 
I could not willingly rest here on the Sabbath, so I 
came away to John Kobler's, and arrived just as ser- 
mon had ended. I ordained D. M'Masters a Deacon. 
Monday brought us to Bashaw's. Next day we got 
into Father Hitt's. 0, the rocks, rivers, mud, frost, 
hills, cold and hunger! Possibly, we have ridden 
seven hundred miles from Charleston, in twenty- two 
days." 

For several days he rested ** under the roof of Her- 
man Hitt." He was a venerable patriarch of eighty- 
six years ; he had lived to see four generations, and 
was the head of eighteen families ; he had given three 
soris and one grandson to the Methodist ministry. 
Beneath the roof of such a man Asbury delighted to 
rest for a little space, but even then he was not idle ; 
he was "reading, writing," and planning for the 
greater spread of the work throughout the vast field 
that he overlooked. He preached **at the new house 
45 



636 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

in Eectortown : the wind blew and it was cold but 
they had an open season." He preached to ** a full 
house at Mounts ;" visited the widow Eoszell and her 
afflicted children, and called on brother Donaw--^ 
weak but faithful. He was rejoiced to hear that there 
was a blessed work of grace in the east end of Lou- 
don county. 

He preached at Leesburg, and then passed on to 
meet the Baltimore Conference, at Georgetown, D. 
C. 

In the absence of any extended accounts of revi- 
vals during this year, the records being very barren 
in this respect, the reader may be interested in the 
following from Rev. J. Carson's recollections, show- 
ing the trials and persecutions with which the early 
preachers had to contend. 

His field of labor was Botetourt Circuit, embracing 
a very extensive scope of country in the roughest 
portion of the State. 

** Within the bounds of this circuit Hved four lo- 
cal preachers, Brothers Burgess, Samuel, and Ed 
ward Mitchell, and Dr. French, who afterwards 
figured quite prominently as a Radical. They w^ere 
kind, good men, and in their houses I felt at home. 
At Blacksburg, a little village on the top of the Al- 
leghany we had some bitter foes. The brethren there 
had bought a dwelling-house and fitted it up for, a 
church, and at this place I was once arrested for the 
purpose of beingput in jail. These were the circum- 
stances . 

** I preached there one Sabbath night, the text I 
do not remember but the position assumed was, that 



IN VIHGINIA. 537 

we are all candidates either for the kingdom of hea- 
ven or hell. "While on this point a young man arose, 
put on his hat and took a stand just in front of me. 
I presently requested him to take his seat, whereupon 
he uttered some insulting and hlasphemous language, 
and walked out of the house. 

<* As he turned, I observed that I feared that young 
man was a candidate for the region of darkness. 
About the close of the sermon he returned, and see- 
ing nothing favorable in his countenance, I concluded 
to remain and attend to some business which I had 
with the brethren ; he remained also, and after dis- 
patching my business I started out, but placing him- 
self in the door he refused to let me pass, saying, 
'You insulted me, sir, and I'll have satisfaction.' 
' Who are you V I asked, * are you the young man 
who misbehaved during the services ?' He denied 
the charge and gave me a blow which had well nigh 
sent me backward, but I recovered, and linding that 
I must defend myself, I seized him by the arm and led 
him out of my way. Just then an old Dutchman came 
up and collaring him, gave him a pretty rough shak- 
ing, saying, * You, Shon Myers, you 'haves yourself 
or I makes you.' I then walked off with brother 
Burgess, and left them to settle it between them. 

**Ileft the village next morning without seeing 
any thing more of * Shon Myers,' though I heard of 
some of his bold threats about horse-whipping me, 
&c. However, before I went there again, fearing to 
undertake that, I suppose, he changed his tactics, and 
concluded to have me arrested. 

** It so happened that there lived in the village a 



538 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

magistrate whose enmity I liad incurred in tlie fol- 
loAving way. The first time I was ever in the place, 
I chanced to hear this man repeating a petty slander 
on Bishop McKendree, to this effect, the Bishop and 
another preacher were passing through that part of 
the country not long before, and coming to a spring 
they alighted, took out a bottle, and drank very co- 
piously ; a negro boy happening to pass at the time, 
they gave him a dram and the bottle not to tell on 
them, but he had disclosed the whole affair. I lis- 
tened to him silently, and when he had finished, I 
said, * Mr. B., I would never repeat that again, for 
really it sounds so much like a lie that it does not 
claim credit. I doubt not, sir, you heard it all, but 
I would not tell it again. Don't you suppose, if it 
were true, that these men were too wise to give the 
negro the only tangible proof of their guilt ?' But 
notwithstanding my assurance that T did not intend 
to doubt his loord, I saw that he was offended. To 
this magistrate Myers made his complaint, find he 
most cheerfully promised that he should be avenged. 
"When next I went to Blacksburg the arrest was pre- 
sented, and on examining it, I found the indict- 
ment was for a ^Breach of the Sabbath.'' 

"At the appointed hour I went to his office, and 
there found the magistrate, the prosecutor, his wit- 
nesses, and a crowd of my own friends, besides those 
who went with me. 

* * They proceeded to the trial ; Myers swore that I 

collared him and called him, * a black candidate 

for Hell.' The magistrate then broke out in a long 
tirade against Methodist preachers ; they thought 



IN VIRGINIA. 539 

they could do as they pleased, &c. I listened to it 
all without interruption, and after he got through, I 
d»emanded that my witnesses be called ; he refused. 
I then asked him to give me the 'Eevised Code,' 
and told him I had never studied law, but I had been 
fortunate enough to read a little. Turning to the 

* Breach of the Sabbath,' and reading what was said 
on that subject, I asked him if any of his testimony 
proved that I had been engaged in any unlawful pur- 
suit on the Sabbath night in question. I again asked 
that my witnesses be sworn ; he again refused, say- 
ing, * You are dismissed.' *I am then no longer 
your prisoner ?' * Ko.' * I am a free man.' ' Yes.' 
' "Well then, sir, I will tell you in the presence of this 
assembly what I think of you. I am not here to 
answer for Methodist preachers, but for myself. 
Hoping to have an opportunity to revenge yourself on 
me for an ofienee innocently oifered by trying to de- 
fend an absent brother, you issued this warrant of 
arrest, but you did not know under what statute to 
put it. I now demand a copy of this man's oatk, 
he has sworn falsely as I can prove. This he also 
refused, but I told him it mattered not, for I knew 
where to find the grand jury, and I had the requisite 
number of witnesses to prove it a perjury. This 
scared poor Myers so badly that he soon left for 

* parts unknown.' I had no more trouble the remain- 
der of the year." 

The Fifth General Conference assembled at Balti- 
more on the 6th of May. It was composed of one 
hundred and twenty-nine members, of whom eigh- 
teen were from the Virginia Conference. Our limits 
45* 



640 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

will allow only a rapid glance at the important pro- 
ceedings of this body. 

The plan which had been proposed for a delegated 
General Conference was consummated, and hence- 
forward the Church possessed a proper legislative 
council, limited in the exercise of its powers by wise 
constitutional restrictions. The "Restrictive Rules," 
as they are called, were drawn up by the Rev. 
Joshua Soule, a junior member of the Conference, 
every year of whose subsequent career has added new 
proofs of his great sagacity and wisdom as a ruler 
in the Church of Christ. 

Some alterations were made in the rules for the or- 
dination of local preachers. Before this time they 
were ordained upon the recommendation of nine 
travelling preachers. By the action of this Confer- 
ence they could only reach orders by the recommen- 
dation of the Quarterly Conference and the approval 
of the Annual Conference, after a careful examina- 
tion of their characters. 

• Each Annual Conference was allowed * 'full liberty 
to adopt and recommend" such measures as they 
might deem best for raising the necessary supplies for 
the preachers. 

Considerable dissatisfaction was evinced at this 
session towards Dr. Coke, who was absent in Eng- 
land. The dissatisfaction of the preachers seems to 
have arisen from two sources. At the earnest solici- 
tation of the English Conference, the proceeding 
General Conference had consented to the return of 
Coke to England, with permission to remain there 



IN VIRGINIA. 541 

until this General Conference, unless recalled by 
three of the yearly Conferences. 

During his stay in England he married, and after- 
ward wrote to his American brethren, proposing to 
settle permanently among them on condition that the 
Continent should be equally divided between him and 
Asbury as the Superintending Bishops. This propo- 
sal was distasteful to the preachers, and they declined 
to accede to it. 

But a far more serious opposition to Dr. Coke was 
grounded upon his confidential letter to Bishop 
White of Pennsylvania, proposing a union between 
the Methodist Episcopal and the Protestant Episcopal 
Churches. 

This famous letter, written at Richmond, Ya., in 
April 1791, remained a secret until the summer of 
1804. 

The letter, made public in a discussion raised in the 
Diocese of Maryland, struck the friends of Dr. Coke 
with astonishment. An explanation was demanded ; 
the Doctor responded with his characteristic fairness 
and candor in a letter to this General Conference. 

He gives his reasons for proposing the union. The 
Church had at that time no regular General Confer- 
ences; he was greatly troubled and not a little alarmed 
at the hostile attitude of O'Kelly and his faction to- 
wards Asbury, and had, only a few months before he 
wrote this letter, prevailed on him and the thirty-six 
preachers who had withdrawn with him from all connec- 
tion with Bishop Asbury, to submit to the decision of a 
General Conference. Previous to the holding of this 
Conference, (1792) there were only small district meet- 



542 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

iDgs, except the Council which was held at Cokes- 
bury — save the union which existed between Asbury 
on the one hand, and the preachers and people on 
the other, the Society, as such, taken as an aggregate 
was almost like a rope of sand. He longed to see 
matters on a footing likely to be permanent. Asbury 
felt the sanie and hence he tried the experiment of 
the Council ; in this Coke differed with him; and be- 
lieved that the Connection would be more likely to 
be saved from convulsions by a union with the oM 
Episcopal Church, than in any other way — not by a 
dereliction of ordination, sacraments, and the Meth- 
odist discipline, but by a junction on proper terms. 
Such are his reasons. He further says : 
** Bishop "White, in two interview's I had with him 
in Philadelphia, gave me reason to believe that this 
i'lnction might be accomplished with ease. Dr. Ma- 
gaw was perfectly sure of it. Indeed (if Mr. Ogden, 
of New Jersey did not mistake in the information 
he gave me) a canon passed the House of Bishops of 
the old Episcopal Church in favor of it. Bishop 
Madison, according to the same information, took 
the canon to the lower house. * But it was there 
thrown out,' said Mr. Ogden, to whom 1 explained 
the whole business, * because they did not understand 
the full meaning of it.' 

** I had provided," he continues, "in the fullest 
manner, in my indispensably necessary conditions, for 
the security, and, I may say, for the independence of 
our discipline and places of worship. But I thought 
(perhaps erroneously and I believe so now) that our 
field of action, would have been exceedingly en- 



IN VIRGINIA. 543 

larged by that jnnctioD, and that myriads would have 
attended our ministry in consequence of it, who were 
at that time much prejudiced against us. All these 
things unitedly considered, led me to write the letter, 
and meet Bishop White and Dr. Magaw on the sub- 
ject in Philadelphia. 

Bishop Emory in his *^ Defence of our Fathers," 
very properly says in reference to this affair, ** that 
whatever Dr. Coke did in this matter, was his own 
individual act; and was neither approved of nor known 
by his colleague. Bishop Asbury, nor, as far as we 
are acquainted, by a single other Methodist minister 
in the United States. 

**AndDr. Coke lived long enough to see, and 
with his characteristic candor, to acknowledge that 
the failure of his scheme had been for the best." 

The Conference was satisHed with the explanation 
of Coke, and retained his name on i\e Minutes, 
with the proviso that he was **not to exercise the 
office of Superintendent in the United States, until 
recalled by the General Conference, or by all the 
Annual Conferences respectively." 

The Conference determined to strengthen the Epis- 
copacy by the election of an additional Bishop, and 
the choice fell upon William McKendree, than whom 
a worthier man never filled that high office. ^^ The 
electing dear brother McKendree assistant bishop," 
was highly pleasing to the veteran Asbury. *'The 
burden," he writes, " is now borne by two pair of 
shoulders instead of one ; the care is cast upon two 
hearts and heads." 

The Journal of this General Conference bears the 



544 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

record of an action perfectly anomalous in the his- 
tory of Church legislation. On the last day of the 
session it was 

<* Moved from the Chair, that there be one thous- 
and Forms of Discipline prepared for the use of the 
South Carolina Conference, in which the section and 
rule on slavery be left out. Carried." 

This motion was made either by Asbury or Mc- 
Kendree ; the latter had never preached in the 
South ; he had been employed for twenty years in 
Virginia and in the Western States. Asbury w^as 
perfectly familiar with public opinion in the South, 
and fully appreciated the hostile attitude of the peo- 
ple tow^ards an anti-slavery Church. For more than 
twenty years he had been watching the growth of 
Methodism in South Carolina, and had doubtless 
reached the conclusion that its preservation in that 
State required this extraordinary act of legislation. 

Of this act, by which both the section on slavery 
and the general rule, were expurgated from the Forms 
of Discipline, designed for circulation in a particular 
section of the Church, we leave the reader to form his 
own judgment. With Dr. Lee we may say : ** One 
thing is apparent in this, and all the other anti-slavery 
proceedings of our fathers. They would never have 
suffered * the great evil of slavery ' to produce the 
still greater evil of rending the seamless garment of 
Christ in twain. They would have preserved the unity 
of the Church maugre all the evils of slavery — ^if the 
windings of legislation could have secured so great 
and beneficial an end." 

In many respects this was the most important Gen- 



IN vmaiNiA. 545 

eral Conference that had assembled since the Conven- 
tion (for such it really was) in 1784. The wisest 
men of the Church were gathered in council. Vir- 
ginia furnished eighteen, among whom the names of 
Philip Bruce, Jesse Lee, Daniel, Hall, and John Bux- 
ton are the most conspicuous. From the delibera- 
tions of this Conference Methodism received such a 
form of government as secured to the ministry and 
laity their full rights, and at the same time threw 
such safeguards around her doctrines and economy as 
to shield them from the successful assaults of open 
enemies, and the more dangerous machinations of pre- 
tended friends. 



546 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER XIY. 

Conference of 1809 — Bad effects of the anti-slavery doctrines — Ad- 
dress of the prisoners in the Penitentiary — Scene at the Harri- 
sonburg Conference — A snake bite — First Camp Meeting in the 
Northern Neck — Conference of 1811 — Asbury's labors— His 
visit to Richmond — A prayer Meeting — Plan of Asbury for a his- 
tory of Methodism in America — Gracious revivals — Great Camp 
Meeting near Winchester — Conference of 1812 — Asbury on the 
Road — Anecdote of "Wesley — Camp meeting near Richmond — 
Stratagem of Jesse Lee— First delegated General Conference — 
New measures proposed — Conference of 1813— Lewis Skid- 
more — Conference of 1814 — Feebleness of Asbury — His devo- 
tion to first work — Death of Dr. Thomas Coke — Conference of 
1815 — Decrease in numbers — Conference of 1816 — Death of As- 
bury — His character and labors — Death of Jesse Lee, 

THE Conference of 1809 met at Tarborough, North 
Carolina, on the 1st of February. Asbury and 
McKendree were present. 

**We had," writes the former, ** eighty-four 
preachers present, sixty of them the most pleasing, 
promising young men ;" and rather exultingly adds, 
*^ in all the Conference there are but three married 
men." 

At this session eighteen candidates were received 
on trial ; fifteen were admitted into fall connection, ot 
whom thirteen were elected to Deacon's orders; eight 
were ordained to the office of elder ; eight located ; 
one had died." 



IN VIRGINIA. 547 

The aggregate of members was 18,169 whites, and 
5,834 blacks, among the former the increase was 333, 
among the latter the decrease was 95. 

The deficiences were reported at |1,500; the whole 
amount collected on fourteen circuits was |85.17; 
the dividend from the Book Concern was|300; from 
the Chartered Fund |170. 

Two collections were made during the session for 
the benefit of the preachers in the ISTew England Con- 
ference, amounting to $105.19, which was placed in 
the hands of Eev. Ilenry JBoehm. His receipt ap- 
pears in the Journal 

Asbury devotes more space in his journal to mat- 
ters connected with this session than is usual with 
him. 

'* Bishop McKendree preached an ordination ser- 
mon on Friday. On the Sabbath I gave them a dis- 
course on humiliation before God, I suppose we have 
had two thousand souls to hear us in the two churches, 
and our friends are very attentive to entertain us in 
their houses, abundantly better than we deserve. Our 
increase in members, unless we allow for a great 
waste by death, and loss by removals, is not very en- 
couraging ; the West and South have given more 
than three thousand each; here it is not three 
hundred. 

"We are defrauded of great numbers by the pains 
that are taken to keep the blacks from us; their mas- 
ters are afraid of the influence of our principles. 
Would not an amelioration in the condition and treat- 
ment of slaves have produced more practical good to 
the poor Africans, than any attempt at their emanci- 
46 



548 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM. 

pation ? The state of society, unhappily, does not 
admit of this ; besides, the blacks are deprived of the 
means of instruction ; who will take the pains to lead 
them into the way of salvation, and watch over them 
that they may not stray, but the Methodists ? Well, 
now their masters will not let them come to hear us. 
What is the personal liberty of the African, which he 
may abuse, to the salvation of his soul ; how may it 
be compared?" 

These reflections are significant. They show how 
strongly the anti-slaveryism of' the Church wrought 
against the religious interests of the' slaves. While 
a few hundreds were emancipated, thousands were 
cut off from her ministrations by an unvnse and over- 
zealous legislation. Instead of gently drawing both 
master and slave within her pale, and teaching them 
the duties enjoined in the Scriptures, she repelled the 
master by harsh denunciations, and left the slave be- 
yond the reach of spiritual instruction. 

Asbury saw and deplored this state of things in the 
South, and in this passage certainly questions the wis- 
dom of all attempts at emancipation. Well had it been 
for the Church, if all her ministers had shared the con- 
victions of this eminently wise and good man ; and 
if he and they had ignored all ecclesiastical legisla- 
tion on the ^* vexed question," and given themselves 
fully to the work of preaching Christ to master and 
slave. 

There can now be no question that our fathers piled 
difficulties in the pathway of Methodism, by each 
successive enactment respecting slavery, until at 



IN yiRGINIA. 549 

length they reached their culmination in the violent 
rending of the Church. ^ 

In connection with this session of the Virginia Confer- 
ence we cannot forbear to mention a fact that probably 
stands alone in the history of such bodies. This was 
the presentation of an address from a number of 
prisoners in the Penitentiary, at Richmond, who had 
been happily converted and formed into a regular re- 
ligious society. The Rev„ Stith Mead was, under 
God, the chief instrument in this good work among 
these unfortunate beings. 

As the address gives a full account of this remark- 
able revival, and is interesting in itself, we present 
it to the reader as a part of the history of Methodism 
in Virginia. 

** The members of the religious society of prison- 
ers in the Virginia Pententiary, at Richmond, to the 
bishops, elders, deacons and preachers of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, who compose the Virginia 
Annual Conference, to beheld atTarborough, I^orth 
Carolina, on the 1st day of February, 1809. sendeth 
Christian salutation, greeting : 

** Beloved Friends; 

^^We pray that the powerful and gracious presence 
of our God may be manifested in your assembly with 
grace, mercy and peace. 

Our attention is directed to you as a body proper 
for us to inform of the gracious manifestations ot 
divine love which we have so happily experienced in 
the course of the last year, and which has been con- 
tinued to us to the present time. Eut we would in- 



55Q MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

form you more particularly of the manner in whicK 
we were brought under our present impressions. 

** Your stationed minister for the city of Kichmond 
after informing himself of the rules and customs of 
our prison, prepared to render us every means of 
grace that might tend to reform our hearts and lead 
us to the hope of glory. Sometime last April he es- 
tablished preaching in this prison on every Sabbath ; 
the preaching was very pointed and convinced of sin ; 
it alarmed our consciences, awakened many of us 
to a sense of our danger as sinners, and led us to 
think of its destructive consequences, so awfully ex- 
emplified in our present situation. The preaching of 
the word placed before us the joys of heaven and the 
torments of hell ; the characters of the righteous and 
wicked were delineated with such perspicuity, that we 
were made to believe the worst of our condition, and 
saw that our portion was to be in the lake that burns 
with fire. 

<* This alarming view of our condition inclined us 
to inquire what we should do to be saved. Mr. Mead 
became very attentive to us, frequently coming into 
our jail, visiting the different workshops, warning us 
to flee from the wrath to come, telling us there was 
an Almighty Kedeemer for us as well as other sinners, 
and urging us to look for pardon through his death 
and intercession ; he set forth the advantages of reli- 
gion to men in our condition of life, and with his 
instructions, he offered up prayer for us in the differ- 
ent apartments where we were confined to labor. 
He appeared to be engaged for our good with such 
fervency and sympathy as very much affected us, and 



IN VIRGINIA. 551 

convinced us that lie was more a friend to ns than we 
had been to ourselves. He also engaged others to 
attend who were very excellent assistants. He fur- 
thermore put religious books into our hands, to in- 
struct us in the way of ti^ue happiness. 

** These works of faith and labors of love were 
blessed of God to the salvation of our souls ; and 
when he became acquainted with our faith, and love 
to God and his people, he advised us to form our- 
selves into a religious society under such rules as were 
agreeable to the word of God and compatible with 
our present condition, in order to watch over 
each other in love, and assist each other in the 
way of life ; he promised to provide for us the 
preaching of the Gospel and to afford us all the 
help he could. We did accord in this, and foimd 
we were with believers and desirous souls twenty-two 
and soon increased to forty- eight in number ; but by 
an honorable pardon and release of some from the 
President of the United States, and the Governor and 
council, and the loss of others who have been dis- 
mised from the society for immoral conduct, our num.- 
ber has been reduced to thirty-six, of whom sc^nare 
black people. In all forty have professed conversion 
since the beginning of the revival. Since we became 
a religious society under the care of Mr. Mead, he 
has continued to watch for our souls, with a ready 
mind ; we are greatly comforted by our faith and 
hope, and prayer and praise have become a delightful 
exercise to us. 

** The real temper of our hearts is love to God 
and man, and we find a secret charm in religion that 
46* 



552 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

softens our afflictions. We cheerfully submit to be 
saved by grace, and we are enabled to put on the 
whole armor of God, being greatly defended and 
supported by the sword of the Spirit, which is the 
word of God. 

^^ As we wish to enjoy this inestimable blessing, 
which we have experienced such advantages in, and 
which has so much changed our condition, to the 
inexpressible joy of our hearts, we therefore beg you 
to consider our case and provide to continue us the 
ministry of the Gospel. We hope and believe that 
you will continue to bestow on the poor and impris- 
oned inhabitants of this jail this best of charities ; 
especially as many of us have a relish for the Gospel 
of our salvation, and as the benevolent heart of Mr. 
Abraham Douglass, our keeper, inclines him gladly 
to aiford us every advantage that tends to virtue and 
morality, and even this best morality, love to the 
bleediiig Lamb. 

*' As we wish to be under your care, we desire you 
to provide for us the ministration of God's word, by 
which we hope to be greatly strengthened ourselves, 
and to see others of our fellow- prisoners brought to 
communion with God. If you should find it conve- 
nient we should be glad that our dear father in the 
gospel, Mr. Mead, should be continued to help us in 
the way to happiness, as he is now acquainted with 
the nature and ways of our prison, and finds no dif- 
ficulty in having access to us. He has also a consid- 
erable number of religious books which he affords us 
the use of. But if this is not thought proper, we 



IN VIRGINIA. 553 

hope the Lord will direct you in appointing some 
other who will be made a blessing to us. 

** That the great Master of Assemblies may bless 
you with his love and presence, that his honor and 
glory may be greatly advanced, in the comfort of 
saints and conversion of sinners by your meeting, 
and that all your deliberations, resolutions and ap- 
pointments, may tend to the glory of God and the 
success of his cause, is the prayer of your sorrowful, 
rejoicing, loving, and affectionate friends in the glo- 
rious gospel. 

** Signed by order, and in behalf of the Society, 

Moses Jackson, Leader. 

15th January, 1809." 

Of this gracious work Jesse Lee has given a brief 
account. Yery soon after Mead began his labors 
among the convicts, the good effects w^ere seen. 

A number of the prisoners wept freely under 
preaching, and the convictions of some were deep 
and lasting. 

At one time while the faces of many were suffused 
with tears; the preacher proposed that all who were 
willing to offer themselves as candidates for heaven 
should stand up ; a few rose to their feet. On another 
occasion, upon a call for penitents, several bowed 
down under deep distress. The work now spread 
rapidly, the number of mourners increased at every 
meeting, several were happily converted ; the power 
of God went through the whole prison. The voice of 
prayer and praise was heard in almost every cell, 
until the entire circular building was made to resound 



554 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

with the praises of God. Many of the conversions 
were signal and powerful. *' I visited them myself," 
says Lee," and talked with many of them, and could 
not doubt the reahty of their profession of faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ." Some of the subjects of this 
revival were the happy witnesses of the saving power 
of grace long after they were released from prison. 

After the close of the Conference, Asbury made a 
rapid journey through Virginia. Crossing the Roa- 
noke at Edward's Ferry, he directed his course towards 
N"orfolk. Thence he passed on to Petersburg. 
He writes : "I expected to find religion more lively 
in this District, but we are on our lees. I grieved to 
find that some of the preachers went about visiting 
instead of being at their work, the spirit of the 
world, and still worse, politics. death, death ! 0, 
Lord God, keep thy ministers faithful." At William 
Blunt^s he preached to a few people who had come 
through a dark night at a short warning. He 
lamented that except at a few places there was great 
langor and indifference among the people, yet he 
prayed and hoped for better times. After preaching 
at Petersburg, he rode home with ** John Ryall Brad- 
ley, now warm in his first love ; he was strangely 
brought to God. He was alone on a Sabbath day 
and was reading, what he indeed seldom read, his 
prayer-book ; suddenly he was powerfully struck with 
keen conviction ; he began to pray without book, 
with all his might ; what followed came of course." 
At Eichmond he preached and found a '' change there 
for the better." He remained but a single day and 
pressed on to meet the Baltimore Conference at Har- 



IN VIRGINIA. 555 

risonburg. " We seldom lodge at a house," he 
writes, " without the company of preachers ; we are 
pleased to see them, bui would be better pleased to 
know they were on their circuits, faithfully at work." 

At the Conference at Harrisonburg a strange scene 
occurred. We give the account in the language of 
Rev. Joseph Carson, who was an eye witness : 

** At this period there were few married men in 
the Conference to be obliged— such a thing as a 

* Bishop's Council' was unknown, and as long as he 
presided. Bishop Asbury made his own appointments. 

* * I remember a remark the old Bishop made at this 
Conference, which produced quite a panic in the body. 
He was much perplexed about his appointments. 

* Brother A,' said he, *must go here, and brother B 
could not go there, &c., &c. ;' until at length the 
old gentleman straightened himself up and with an 
impatient gesture, exclaimed, * I would not give one 
single preacher for a half dozen married ones.' 
Whereupon, S. G. Roszell rose and said, * I ask a lo- 
cation, sir f then followed John Pitts, then another 
and another till nearly every one in the condemned 
list had made the same request. 

*' The Bishop looked startled, and asked what was 
the matter. * Why,' answered one, * if that is your 
opinion of married preachers, we will receive no 
more appointments at your hands.' * What did I say,' 
asked he. His remark was repeated. * Did I say 
that V said he now fully aroused from his reverie. 

* Yes, Bishop,' was heard from every side. * Well, 
my brethren, forgive me, I will say it hack,'' answered 
the good Bishop. ' Then, sir, we withdraw our ap- 



556 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

plications,' said they, and all was harmony and love 
again." 

The records of revivals during this year in Virginia 
are meagre in the extreme. Yet the Church was 
not entirely left without the refreshing showers of 
grace. At some of the Camp Meetings there were 
powerful manifestations of the Spirit. At such a 
meeting near Lynchhurg which lasted only a few days 
nearly eighty souls were converted, at another, near 
Abner Early's, eighteen miles from the same town, 
162 persons were converted in course of a week. 
Others were held in different parts of the State, at 
which many sinners were brought to God, and the 
Christians greatly encouraged in all the work of 
faith. 

The venerable Joseph Carson has furnished some 
interesting recollections of his field of labor for this 
year. His circuit was Greenbrier, embracing the 
whole of that county with parts of Bath and Giles. 
There were twenty-two appointments for four weeks, 
some of them fifty miles apart. *'I had been told," 
he says, ^* that it was a rade, rough country, and a 
very hard circuit." This he found to be true, it not 
being ^ * so very pleasant to have to use heafs meat 
for both bread and meat^ The preaching was mostly 
done in school houses and private dwellings, there 
being but ^yq churches, small, rude buildings, which 
scarcely deserved that name. One of his most 
zealous and efiicient members was Aaron Burr, a 
cousin of the illustrious and unfortunate politician of 
the same name. 

Mr. Carson relates an incident that occurred under 



• IN VIRGINIA. 557 

his ministry in this circuit, which we will not forhear 
to give, though from the unbeliever it may provoke 
an incredulous smile. The humble Christian will 
know how to regard it. 

" While preaching at N'ew River on one occasion 
a most singular circumstance transpired which I can 
account for in no other way than as a special interpo- 
sition of Providence, I was about half through my 
sermon when an old man entered the church ; he had 
hardly taken his seat before it was strangely but 
strongly impressed upon me that he had been 
bitten by a make. I endeavored to disregard it, but 
it haunted me so that I became confused, and could 
not proceed with my sermon. I stopped and told 
the congregation that I could not proceed until I 
had asked a question, and then, pointing to the man, 
I inquired if he had not been bitten by a snake. 
* yas,' answered the old Dutchman in his broadest 
brogue, * be sure dat ish true, but never you mind 
dat, you go on, I wants to hear your sermon out.' 
^Ko, no, my good friend,' I replied, you must attend 
to your body as well as your soul,' and dismissing 
the congregation we turned our attention to him. 
His leg was then so much swelled that he could not 
stand, and before we could get him home, about two 
miles, his tongue was swelled out of his mouth. They 
dug a hole in the ground and put his leg in it, where 
he was kept till the swelling abated. That day four 
weeks the old man was out to hear the sermon fin- 
ished." 

This incident is as remarkable as many of those 
recorded by "Wesley in his journal. As the fruit of 



558 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Mr. Carson's hard toil in this wild region one hun- 
dred and fifty souls were added to the Church. 

In midwinter of this year we find Asbury making 
a rapid journey from the Sonth towards Yirginia. 
He "passed like a mail through South and North 
Carolina." 

He was greatly enfeebled and suffered extremely 
from the excessive cold, but on he went, '' shivering, 
eating a morsel and praying." His flesh complained 
of cold riding and the labor of preaching, but he 
prayed to be made perfect through suffering. An 
old fashioned Yirginia home with its blazing fire, and 
cheerful Christian friends, and a quiet room for 
prayer and meditation, no man enjoyed more than 
Asbury. " Through rain and snow, without eating or 
prayer, although we stopped twice, we came to Wil- 
liam Birdsong's. O how comfortable; and we can 
pray here." But his own failing health and the ravages 
of disease among his friends and co-laborers cast a 
gloom over his spirits. His " dear brother Boehm," one 
of his most faithful travelling companion s,h ad suffered 
greatly on the route with " an awful cough and 
fevers." William Graves was almost gone at fifty-five. 
Robert Jones was a helpless man of seventy -two. sunk 
into second childhood ; but God was with him. The 
strong men were falling around him ; he, their leader, 
was fast closing his illustrious career. But his labors 
did not abate. Six times a week he preached, by 
day and by night, as he passed the scenes of his for- 
mer toil. To the little gatherings in private houses 
he preached with the same fervor and eloquence that 



^ IN VIRGINIA. 55^ 

charmed and instructed the crowded congregations in 
cities. ** At James Kogers," he says, **I gave them 
a discourse, and spoke as if a thousand had been 
present." Surely he might say, if any man could, 
" the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." 

Asbury and McKendree reached Petersburg and 
opened the Conference of 1810 on the 8th of Febru- 
ary. The records of this session are brief and devoid 
of interest. Seven were admitted on trial, after hav- 
ing been examined before the Conference ; fifteen 
were elected to deacon's orders ; nine to elder's orders ; 
two were discontinued, and ten located. The num- 
bers were reported at 18,864 whites, and 6,150 col- 
ored. The increase was 362 white and 411 colored 
members. The deficiencies in the preachers' salaries 
amounted to $1,618. 65 ; to meet this there was re- 
ceived from the circuits $292.65 ; from the Chartered 
Fund one eighth of the profits, viz., $140 ; and from 
the Book Concern $800. The committee of dis- 
tribution made a dividend of $59 to each claimant, 
^* taking into consideration those who were some time 
absent." 

The number of circuits reported was 42, the num- 
ber of preachers stationed 77. 

"We find in the Minutes of this year, for the first 
time, the following : ** the evening was spent in ex- 
amining into the characters of the elders ;" and this 
appears near the close : " Some time was spent in 
cursory conversation respecting the duties of the sev- 
eral orders in the ministry." 

Of the progress of Methodism in the State during 

•47 



560 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

this year scarcely a trace remains. The history of 
Jesse Lee closes with the past year, and no other pen 
was employed in recording the trials and triumphs of 
the Church. From the interesting papers furnished 
by Eev. J. Carson, we are enabled to supply this omis- 
sion so far as one portion of the State is concerned. 
The Northern Keck, a fruitful and inviting field, was 
this year favored with the services of this excellent 
and useful minister. 

'* This year," he writes, *' I was sent to Westmore- 
land. The circuit embraced Westmoreland, Richmond 
and Lancaster counties (now divided into four circuits, 
I believe,), with twenty-seven appointments in twenty- 
eight days, and class meetings at each place. Churches 
v^ere not so rare here as on my former circuits, for 
besides our own, I found several old colonial churches 
unoccupied, with a class at each. I also preached 
at the houses of brothers Pope, C. L. Eskridge, Dog- 
gett, Forrester, Mitchell and Spriggs ; these last 
four were local preachers. Brother Doggett was the 
father of our own beloved Dr. Doggett — a worthy 
father of so noble a son — and there, when an infant 
of a few weeks, I have dandled him, little dreaming 
that he would ever occupy so prominent a position in 
the ranks of Methodism. These, together with the 
Ball, Hugh tell, Conway and Cole families formed the 
staff of our Church when I first went there. 

**I will give you an account of the first camp 
meeting on that circuit. It was held on the land of 
brother Lamkin, the father of Rev. J. J. Lam kin, 
near Kinsale, in the month of August. 



IN VIRGINIA. 561 

** I was discouraged by my presiding elder, col- 
league and congregations, * for,' said they, ' your pre- 
decessor attempted it and failed ;' but I resolved to 
try. I bad to superintend all the arrangements, for 
they were ignorant of the proper plan for an encamp- 
ment. Major Bailey, a lumber merchant in Kinsale, 
offered me the loan of plank enough for seats, pro- 
vided I would be responsible for all that might be 
broken, to which I agreed. 

** I never believed in many ^ rules and regulations ' 
on a camp-ground, so before the services began I 
made all my requests from the stand. These were 
that the ministers and official members should occupy 
the altar, that the magistrates should take seats in the 
stand, and that the congregation should refrain from 
standing on the seats. We had no ministerial aid 
from a distance that I remember, only the presiding 
elder and ourselves. My request to the magistrates 
was responded to by sixteen of the order coming for- 
ward and taking the seats designated. 

** On the first day one of the magistrates so far 
forgot himself as to stand on the bench. I caught 
his eye, and looked to the ground as a signal for him 
to get down. He felt the reproof so keenly that he 
took offence at it, and told every one that I had pub- 
licly insulted him and that he would horsewhip me. 
I was informed of his threats and advised by my 
friends not to go out, but I assured them 1 did not 
fear him and should go about my business. In the 
afternoon while walking round the ground I met him 
face to face. He stopped me, saying, Mr. Carson, I 



662 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

wish to speak to you.' 'I'll hear you, sir,' said I. 

* How came you to insult me in the public congrega- 
tion?' I assured him he had quite misunderstood 
me, that he was one to whom I was looking for pro- 
tection, that I feared the efiect of his example, and 
that I only intended to remind him of this by a look. 

* Yes, but such a look I never saw before.' * I ask 
your pardon, sir,' said I, ' for all I have said against 
you ;' thus we parted friends, and he was found on 
the * magistrates' bench ' every day afterwards. 

* ' On the second day we had a disturbance of a more 
serious nature, but it was the last. While the exer- 
cises at the altar were in progress several persons 
mounted the benches, but on being asked to resume 
their seats all did so except one young man. I went 
to him and repeated the request, still he refused, say- 
ing he was in Virginia, and would do as he pleased. 
I replied to him that Virginians were generally jpolUCy 
and I was sorry to see him bringing a reproach on 
my native state, and again urged my request. *I 
won't do it,' said he. ' Then I'll see that you do,' I 
replied and started off. As I turned from him he 
drew his knife, and simultaneously with that the 
whisper arose, ' Take care, he has a knife.' I turned 
upon him immediately, and daunted by this move- 
ment, he hastily shut the knife, catching his hand in 
it, and cutting it very badly. Major Bailey seeing 
the crowd; came forward and asked ' What was the 
matter?' 'Kotmuch,' said I, * only a young man 
behaving a little rudely.' * Show him to me,' said 
he ! and when pointed out, he proved to be his own 



IN ymaiNiA. 56^3 

cousin ! he took him off to a tent, and I returned to 
the stand. Very soon a messenger informed me that 
Major B. wished to see me. When I went he said, 

* I have ordered this young man to jail for interrupt- 
ing public worship, but he is also liable to punish- 
ment for an assault upon your life ; what shall be done 
with him ?' * Nothing, sir.' * Well then he goes to 
jail at any rate, unless he can give security.' Find- 
ing that no one intended to offer himself, I said, 

* Eelease the young man, sir, I'll be his security.' 
AH looked surprised, and he bursting into tears, ex- 
claimed, * If I don't behave like a gentleman while I 
stay on this camp-ground, you may cut my throat.' 

**From this time the best order prevailed, and we 
had about fifty converts ; this was our inaugural 
camp-meeting on that circuit. We had a continuous 
revival throughout the year, and we added 400 mem- 
bers to the Church." 

The Conference for 1811 assembled at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, on the 7th of February. Bishops 
Asbury and McKendree presided. There were fifty 
members present. *' P. Bruce, Thomas L. Douglass 
and John Buxton were appointed a committee to pre- 
pare rules to regulate the Conference in their delibe- 
rations." This is the first notice we have of such a 
committee. Fifteen candidates were admitted on 
trial ; twelve were elected to deacon's, and ten to 
elders' orders : nine located ; two were dropped ; one 
readmitted. The aggregate of members was reported 
at 19,345 whites, and 6,232 colored; the increase 
was only 481 whites and 82 colored. The deficien- 

47* 



664; MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 



cies amounted to $1,080 ; amount collected — ^we ^ive 


the 


aggregate from each district ;— 






Norfolk, 


$162.20 




Raleigh, 


37.95 




James River, 


137.63 




Kew Berne, 


6.00 




Yadkin, 


2.60 




Meherrin, 


228.68 




Bal. of Ste. Davis' legacy, 


90.00 




From Chartered Fund, 


160.00 




*< Book Concern, 


300.00 



$1,103.96 

A collection amounting to $64 was taken up for 
*'our brethren in the IsTew England Conference," 
for which the receipt of Henry Boehm is recorded. 

The number of circuits was reported at 46 ; eighty- 
two preachers received appointments. The spirit of 
grace rested on the ministers of Christ during the 
session. *' I believe," says Asbnry, *^ that much 
good was done in Raleigh. On Sunday I preached 
in the State House to two thousand souls. We had 
while Conference was in session preaching three 
times a day ; the meetings were sometimes held till 
midnight. " 

No sooner w^as the Conference over than this inde- 
fatigable man was on his way to Virginia. He was 
glad to be among his old friends once more. A cold 
ride brought him to John Seward's, Brunswick ; the 
next day he came to Charles Harris', where he was 
kindly and comfortably entertained. '^ My old Yir- 



IN VIRGINIA. 565 

ginia frieuds," he says, *' have disappeared from the 
earth ; hut it is no small consolation that they have 
left me their oftspring — these are the children of faith 
and prayer. Witness the Georges, the Booths, and 
many others. And God has heard the prayers of 
the poor negroes for their masters; surely he is no 
respecter of persons." He passed through Richmond 
on his journey and preached on the Sahhath. It was 
prohably on this occasion that an incident occurred 
which brought about the completion of the Metho- 
dist Church on Shockoe Hill. The first steps towards 
the erection of this house had been taken the previous 
year, and by great exertions it was so far completed 
as to be placed under cover, and in this condition it 
remained until the time of Asbury's visit. The 
morning after his arrival he called together a number 
of the leading members, repaired to the unfinished 
church, and upon a few loose boards laid down for 
the occasion he held a prayer- meeting, and urged the 
brethren to go forward and complete the building. 
Richmond still appears to have been an uncongenial 
soil for Methodism. Asbury scarcely ever makes a 
remark concerning it in his journal, except to state 
that he preached in the place. 

It was during this brief visit to the city that he ad- 
dressed a letter to Rev. T. L. Douglass, giving an 
outline for a history of Methodism in America. As 
this is a document of much interest, we here present 
it to the reader. So far as we know, it has never be- 
fore appeared in print : 

** I have stricken out a plan for a complete letter 
history of Methodism by our presiding elders, taking 



566 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the work by Districts from the time the first circuit 
was formed in the District and the state of the Dis- 
trict in 1812. This will be done by the printed Min- 
utes in my hands. 

Tell the year the first circuit was formed, &c. , and 
then give. 

1. The number of meeting houses in the District. 

2. The number of congregations established in pri- 
vate houses, meeting houses, or chapels. 

3. The number of Societies, and of members in 
the District. 

4. The number of travelling and local preachers 
in the same. 

6. The general number of annual Camp Meetings 
in the District, numbers attending, souls professing 
converting grace, days of continuance. 

6. Name any preachers or members, brethren and 
sisters, that from good testimony may have been known 
to die in triumph ; and aoy notable characters that 
have been useful, whether travelling or local 
preachers. 

7. The nomination (name) of the circuits, the 
counties, &c., the District embraces, the rivers itlieth 
upon, and boundaries and tract from East to West, 
North, South. 

8. Eevivals that have been in several parts of the 
District as well also the present state of the work. 

**I wish each Presiding Elder to collect his mate- 
rials and to get a complete historical letter, neatly, 
correctly done. These letters to be read in Annual 
Conference and then handed to the General Confer- 
ence. It will make a grand history in about fifty 



IN vmoiNiA. 667 

Jitters. You will ask how are we to obtain inform- 
ation ? I answer, by the circuit preachers. Let them 
give names, numbers ; the name of every local 
preacher ; every congregation by the name of the man 
at whose house they meet ; also the name of every 
chapel. You might collect the approbation as well 
as the information of some of the aged and most re- 
spectable men, or get them to sign your letter as be- 
lieving it to be true. 

** I desire that you forthwith write this as the wish 
of the Episcopacy to all the presiding elders in the 
Virginia Conference. I also desire you to write to 
William Burke, Shelbyvlle, Kentucky, that he may 
write to all the presiding elders in the West. I also 
wish you to write to William M. Kennedy, Columbia^ 
South Carolina, and request him to write to all the 
presiding elders in the South Conference to be ready 
at the next Conference. The plan is plain and pos- 
sible. We can ascertain the first circuit of the dis- 
trict, and in what year formed, and then how the dis- 
trict grew till 1812. Tell the presiding elders to lose 
no time ; a particular history must come from the 
Districts to the Annual Conferences, and from them 
to the General Conference. It will be proper to give 
a distinct account of our cities and towns, the 
number of houses of God, the number we probably 
preach to weekly. 

** You think the whole letter will be a task ; it 
will be a phocas ; it will be much in little. One line 
may be a history. I am sensible it may be done with 
attention in one day. I saw the Bishop [McKen- 



568 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

dree] was taken with the plan. I have matured it in 
riding through snow and frost." 

Of this outline Douglass writes ; **The plan laid 
down in the preceding letter was forwarded as the 
Bishop requested, hut the work was attended to only 
partially, and no returns were made to Conference 
except in two or three instances, and these were far 
from heing full or complete. But I am satisfied the 
Bishop was of opinion his plan would not die, and 
although he should not live to see it fully acted upon, 
he was nevertheless persuaded that it was the most 
correct and efiicient one by which to collect and trans- 
mit to posterity an account of the introduction, rise 
and progress of Methodism in America." 

Douglass appears to have been of the same opinion, 
for so late as 1834 he recommended to the Western 
preachers the adoption of this plan of Asbury. 

"We may truly regret the failure of the Bishop's 
cherished scheme, and without agreeing that its ex- 
ecution would have given us a *^ grand history in fifty 
letters," we may be sure that a vast amount of infor- 
mation, and many of the most touching scenes and 
incidents in the march of Methodism have been ir- 
recoverably lost. 

The revival of religion among the churches was 
quite extensive thi^ year, particularly at the Camp 
Meetings. These meetings began as early as May 
and were continued till late in the fall. At one held 
at Tate's old field near Lynchburg, under the direc- 
tion of Eev. T. L. Douglass, there was a gracious out- 
pouring of the Spirit. The work of conversion 
among sinners^ and of sanctification among Chris- 



IN VIRGINIA. 569 

tians went forward with glorious fervor ; at another, 
held not far from the town of Manchester, thirty souls 
were converted ; at a third in Buckingham, which 
lasted six days, seventy were born of God ; at a 
fourth in Amherst, in the space of seven days, ninety- 
six were converted and fourteen sanctified. 

In the spring a great work broke out in the county 
of Pittsylvania under the preaching of Stith Mead. 
It went on through the summer and scores of souls 
were reclaimed from the power of sin. In a simple 
but earnest letter to Mead, a writer says : ** We have 
had glorious seasons from the Lord since you were 
with us. The Lord has shattered old Satan's king- 
dom, and the devil is mighty mad with you for it. 
The children of Zion are much stirred up to pray, 
and the Lord has revived his work in a wonderful 
manner." 

The camp meetings held near Richmond gave a 
great impulse to religion in the city, and nearly one 
hundred professed conversion, of whom sixty were 
received into the Church. Lynchburg also caught 
the flame from the camp-meetings near by, and about 
twenty members were added to the church in that 
town. 

But the most glorious and powerful camp-meeting 
of the year was held near Winchester. **I one 
night," says Rev. J. Carson, '* counted three hun- 
dred penitents on the ground. We continued the 
exercises till daybreak, and the fruits of that night's 
work were one hundred souls happily converted to 
God. This mighty work seems to have been pro- 
luced by the shout of Sister Jefferson, the wife of 



§7# MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Hamilton Jefferson, wkoifeeeived me into the Claurch. 
She had for years been a doubting Christian, but 
while sitting in the teni; of brother Eeid of "Win- 
chester, apparently uneonscious of all that was pas- 
sing around her, she suddenly sprang up and rushing 
out of doors, with uplifted hands and eyes, exelaim- 
ing, *'Hosanna! Hosanna!! Hosanna ! ! !" 

The crowd instantly gathered around her ; the dis- 
order likely to result from allowing 5,000 people to 
become unduly excited occurred to all the ministers, 
and without concert they all adopted the same plan, 
which was to march around the encampment and 
sing until seats could be arranged at different places 
for some of the strong lunged preachers to have their 
separate congregations. This was the beginning of 
the custom of marching at Camp Meetings, which is 
observed even at the present day, though much 
abused." 

In his reminiscences of this year, Mr. Carson gives 
an instance of a signal answer to prayer which is wor- 
thy of record ; 

a While travelling for my health, which was then 
fast failing, I passed through Botetourt, and hearing 
that Rev. Samuel Mitchell was ill, called to see him. 
When I reached his house I found Drs. French and 
Jennings with him, both of whom pronounced him 
beyond hope. As I approached his bed he extended 
his hand, saying, * Brother Carson, I am almost gone, 
but I want you to pray for me.' We kneeled around 
his couch; I seemed to have remarkable access in 
prayer, and felt an unusual degree of faith that our 
prayers would be answered — I felt that he would re- 



IN VIRGINIA. 571 

cover. Wten we rose one of the physicians went to 
him, examined his pulse, and with a look of amaze- 
ment exclaimed : ' The fever is broke, he may get 
well.' From that hour he began to improve and 
speedily recovered." 

As the time for the Virginia Conference ap-- 
preached, Asbury was toiling up from the South. 
It is astonishing how much labor his feeble frame 
could endure ; but he ** endured as seeing him who is 
invisible." 

*' "We have made," he says, "seven hundred miles 
since we left Camden, through frost, floods, cold and 
hunger ; poor men, and poor horses ! "Well this life 
is not eternal." 

On reaching Suffolk he found his good friend, 
" Kichard Terberry had gone from poor Suffolk to 
the rich inheritance of glory ; he was almost a prod- 
igy of affliction and grace." 

At Portsmouth he preached to a full house ; at 
Norfolk he preached and met the Society. All along 
his route death had preceded him. His old friend, 
General Wells, and his daughter had departed in 
peace since his last visit. ** I visited," he says, *^ as 
is my custom, the graves of the deceased." 

This was a beautiful trait in the character of As- 
bury, he seems never to have passed the grave of a 
friend, without lingering near it as if he would hold 
communion with the glorified spirit. A weary ride 
of twenty-five miles brought him sick, and utterly 
worn down to Bryant's in Prince George. *' They put 
me to bed very unwell. Here are two meeting houses 
and the gospel is brought back to the vicinity of 
48 



572 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

Prince George Court House after thirty years absence. 
No time was to be lost — I took tartar, and had a se- 
rious spell while it lasted." But the very next morn- 
ing he was up, and '^rode a mile and gave a sermon." 
** My breast is sore," he writes, " and my heart in 
pain for Petersburg." Why he was pained for this 
place he does not tell us ; perhaps because of divis- 
ions in the Society, or the low state of religion. 

On the 20th of February he opened the Confer- 
ence of 1812 at Eichmond. Bishop McKendree was 
also present. There were sixty-six members in at- 
tendance ; eight young preachers were received on 
trial, after being examined by the Bishop before the 
Conference ; six travelling and sixteen local preach- 
ers were elected Deacons ; eight travelling preachers 
to Elders' Orders ; two were discontinued ; eleven lo- 
cated ; two were returned as supernumerary ; two had 
died ; one was re-admitted. 

The deficiency in salaries was $1,325.98. Collected 
from the circuits, $506.75 ; received from the Char- 
tered Fund, $100 ; from the Book Concern $300. 

The membership was reported at 19,157 whites; 
and 6,275 colored ; notwithstanding the numerous 
revivals of the year there was a loss of 188 whites, 
and a gain of only 43 blacks. The cause of this was 
**the great emigrations westward." " Old Virginia 
decreases in the number she gives to the Methodists," 
says Asbury, ** but Kew Virginia gains." 

The list of circuits numbered 42 ; 75 preachers 
were stationed. 

"We append several extracts from the Minutes of 
this year which will show the manner in which the 



IN YIRGINIA. 573 

Conference conducted business, and the strictness 
with which it watched over the conduct of the 
preachers ; 

** J. C. B. having travelled two years and filled up 
his probation as a preacher he was eligible to admis- 
sion into full connection, and ordination to deacon's 
orders ; his character was blameless, but as he is ab- 
sent and declines travelling on account of temporal 
business, his name is dropped. 

**L. B. having been in the travelling connection 
two years his character was blameless, but as it ap- 
pears in consequence of sickness, he has not been 
able to attend his appointments, and still remains in 
a low state of health, his name is to be dropped, and 
in case he should recover his health, and an opening 
offer, the P. E. may employ him. 

* * J. M. having filled up his probation, he was ad- 
mitted into full connection, and elected to the ofiice 
of a deacon, but, as it was thought, somethings were 
attached to him which the Conference thought im- 
proper, such as want of seriousness in the families, 
and want of plainness in dress, or appearance, &c., 
the Conference directed that one of the Bishops should 
admonish him before the Conference, which was 
done. 

" After hearing charges against H. H., and consid- 
erable debate, the following record was directed to be 
made : Brother H. has been guilty of some impru- 
dences, and the Conference directed that he should 
be admonished by one of the Bishops before the Con- 
ference, which was done. 

**J. M. was examined before Conference; some 



574 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM .j 

questions were asked respecting slavery, whieli he 
was not prepared to answer ; the case is therefore laid 
over until he has time to mature his thoughts. Tues- 
day morning — J. M., having matured his thoughts 
on the subject of slavery, answered the question 
proposed on Saturday; he said he thought slavery 
wrong, and that he was not in the spirit of it, and if 
ever an opening was made, and it should be in his 
power, he felt prepared to say that he would give his 
slaves their liberty. 

*' Complaints were made against H. W. of impru- 
dences, for which he was admonished, and he prom- 
ised to be more cautious, and to act more consistently 
as a Christian minister for the future. 

^'W. W. H., who has married and desisted from 
travelling, applied for a location ; but as it appears to 
Conference that he has married an irreligious woman, 
and is inattentive to preaching, the Conference voted 
to withhold his location, and to suspend him, as a 
preacher, six months." 

The following entry we find in reference to the 
election of delegates to the General Conference : 

The Conference proceeded to the business of 
ascertaining who are to go as our representatives at 
the next General Conference, and upon examination 
of the number of our members, it appears that we are 
entitled to eleven representatives, who are sent by 
delegation. On ballotting, P. Bruce, T. L. Douglass, 
John Buxton, "William Jean, John Early, Jesse Lee, 
James Boyd, Eichard Lattimore, Cannellem H. 
Hines, Charles Calloway, and John C. Ballew, were 
duly elected, and appointed to represent us in the 



IN VIRGINIA. 575 

General Conference of our Church, to be held in the 
city of Kew York in May next." 

Singular as it may appear, this was the first session 
of the Conference ever held at Eichmond, although 
it had been forty years since Methodism was first 
introduced into the State. Including the two 
churches, the membership in the city amounted only 
to 256 whites, and 47 colored. 

Asbury introduces a remark in connection with this 
Conference which shows that a change, very slight, 
however, was passing over the minds of the preachers 
on the question of slavery. He says, ** a charge had 
been brought against me for ordaining a slave ; but 
there was no further pursuit of the case when it was 
discovered that I was ready with my certificates to 
prove his freedom." From this, one thing is certain, 
that in the judgment of the Virginia Conference, at 
that day, it was wrong to ^^ ordain a slave." 

The Conference over, the two Bishops began a tour 
through the lower counties. Facing a ** cutting 
north-east wind," they rode thirty miles to Eoper's 
Chapel, where Asbury '* preached some awful 
truths." The night that followed was one '* of great 
suffering," but the next morning they rode into James 
City, **and preached in the Chapel to many people." 
The next day, in Williamsburg, Asbury '^preached 
with a full mind, but failing voice." The day fol- 
lowing, they **rode near forty miles to breakfast with 
an English family, the "Whitfields ; and went forward 
to lodge with George Hope, a ship-builder from 
Whitehaven." The reference here is doubtless to the 
family of the venerable Eichard Whitfield, who still 
48* 



676 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

survives at the age of eighty-six, a Methodist of the 
olden times, full of faith and zeal, joyfully waiting 
till the Master shall call him to the home of the 
angels. Perhaps he is the only person now living in 
Virginia, who has heard the gospel from the lips of 
John Wesley. He was at the time a mere youth, 
residing in his native town in England, but he still 
retains a vivid recollection of Wesley's venerable 
appearance and impressive manner in the pulpit. He 
relates an interesting incident connected with the 
occasion. Wesley w^ore his hair long, falling in curls 
upon his neck and shoulders. It was arranged with 
great care, and especially attracted the attention of 
two gentlemen who were present. One of them 
insisted that Wesley wore a wig ; the other, with 
equal earnestness, that he did not. The dispute ended 
in a wager between them. Placing themselves near 
the door, when Wesley came out, they accosted him, 
and stated the nature of their dispute. He replied, 
*' Gentlemen, you are both right; I wear a wig, but 
it is made of my own hair ;" and then added that he 
found so much difficulty in keeping it in proper order 
that he had had it cut off and made into a wig. 01 
course neither gained the wager.* 

The family of George Hope was one of the first to 
unite with the Methodists in Hampton, and still has 
its useful and honorable representatives in her com- 
munion. In the '^ new brick house in Hampton," 
Asbury preached and " ordained Eobert Gillum and 
Brother Evans, local Deacons." They crossed the 
York River at Yorktown, and found the place 
"declining in numbers and wickedness, because of 

* Mr. Whitfield has sdrsce died. 



iNvmGiNiA. 677 

the decrease of trade and strong drink," '* At 
Philip Tabb's, Esquire — a great farmer and a kind 
and hospitable gentleman," — they found a welcome 
and quiet home. ** It rained on Sunday," he says, 
** but we had two hours in the cold house to utter our 
testimony." They found a comfortable home with 
*' Brother Bellamy, a witness of the sanctifying power 
of grace." *' I go forward," says this apostolic man, 
** in rain, and in temptation, and affliction, and great 
grief for souls." In King and Queen he found 
" Father Mann" still living, at whose house he had 
** preached thirty-three years past. " * * The Baptists," 
he says, ^' have the i-ule in Queen Anne [King and 
Queen] and Essex. We must not be envious — we 
have it, and are getting it, and will continue to get 
it, if we are faithful, still more abundantly throughout 
the whole continent." 

He preached at Fredericksburg, and found that the 
Methodists had "done great good there." ''Since 
they began to preach, the Baptists and Presbyterians 
have built meeting houses." From this place he 
toiled on *' through mud and mist,' stemming the cold 
and boisterous north-west wind," till he reached 
Leesburg, the seat of the Baltimore Conference. 
They had ''a solemn, loving, peaceful" session. 
Arriving at the ferry, after the close of Conference, 
he had a signal answer to prayer, whicn, strange to 
say, he hesitates to acknowledge as such. " It blew 
a hurricane. I lifted up my heart in prayer to God. 
There was, in a few minutes, a great calm, which all 
those with me witnessed ; but I will not say it w^aa in 
*nswer to prayer." 



578 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

But few memorials have been preserved of the 
progress of religion amoDg the churches in Virginia 
this year. There were, however, gracious outpourings 
of the Spirit in some quarters. In the "Williamsburg 
circuit, there was a fine revival, and many additions 
were made to the Church. Stith Mead was the chief 
mstrument in this good work. The first signs of 
success appeared at Hampton, where some twelve or 
fifteen souls were converted. In May, at a Camp 
Meeting in Few Kent, the power of God was signally 
displayed in the salvation, of seventy souls. Another 
meeting was held near Hampton, at which upwards 
of fifty professed to be born from above. At a third 
Camp Meeting, held at Willis' Meeting House, there 
was a copious outpouring of the Spirit ; 102 happy 
converts cast in their lot with the people of God. 
The result of the years' work on the circuit, was above 
300 converted, and 200 added to the Church. The 
disparity in these numbers resulted from the fact that, 
ns usual, the Methodist revivals largely contributed 
to build up other churches. 

In Eichmond the w^ork progressed to some extent 
under the labors of Jesse Lee and Charles Calloway. 
Dr. Lee has given us a sketch of his uncle's labors in 
the city. **With his colleague he alternated, preaching 
at one Church in the morning, at the other in the 
afternoon. Pastoral visiting was attended to by both; 
but the government of the Church rested on his 
shoulders. One who knew him well at this period, 
and was a witness of his labor in the ministry, bears 
the following testimony of his diligence and industry : 
^ He was certainly the most laborious preacher we 



IN VIRGINIA. 579 

ever had. During the snmmer months he constantly 
preached four times on the Sabbath, and attended 
meeting almost every night in the week. His practice 
was, when he preached on Shockoe Hill in the after- 
noon, immediately after service in the Church, to go 
to Buchanan's Spring, where there was generally a 
large company of idlers, and, mounting a table, he 
would preach a sermon appropriate to their circum- 
stances. And w^hen he was in Qld Tow^n Church, in 
the afternoon, after service he would repair to a vacant 
lot opposite old St. John's, and beneath the shade of 
the venerable oaks, one of which is still standing, 
then occupying the place, he would gather the crowds 
from the graveyard, and the houses near at hand, and 
preach the gospel of the grace of God with a fall 
heart and a ready utterance,' " A gentleman capable 
of judging, said of his mmistry : " "When Mr. Lee 
commences his sermon, it always reminds me of the 
hoisting of the flood-gate of a mill ; there is one 
incessant pouring of the sweetest eloquence I ever 
heard from any man in my life." Besides these 
heavy labors, he devoted a portion of his time to the 
convicts in the Penitentiary. This prison was one of 
the regular preaching places of the station, and was 
supplied by Lee or his colleague, or some of the local 
preachers in the city. 

At a Cam.p Meeting held in the month of Sep- 
tember, some distance below Eichmond, and not far 
from James River, a scene occurred in which gravity 
and humor, on the part of Jesse Lee, were strangely 
blended. We have had an account of this meeting 
from Eev. Philip Courtney, one of the prominent 



580 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

actors, bnt we extract the following sketch from Dr. 
Lee's work, presuming that Father Courtney was his 
informant. 

It was held during the war, and a considerable 
number of merchant vessels had run up the river to 
avoid the English cruisers hovering about the coast. 
The meeting was progressing in good style, when one 
one night, after the service had concluded, and the 
people had retired to their tents, a large party of 
sailors, headed by a Captain Swift, and all well under 
the maddening influence of strong drink, came upon 
the ground, full of evil intent, and evidently deter- 
mined upon a row. The ministers were all in bed ; 
but the noise made by the drunken sailors prevented 
all chance of sleep. It was midnight ; and instead 
of abatement of the disturbance, it rather grew worse. 
At this stage of the affair, Mr. Lee left his bed ; and 
inviting two or three others to join him, they hastily 
dressed themselves and went out among the crowd. 
Others from the tents and the neighborhood were 
mingled with the sailors — a large and noisy crowd. 
Followed by his companions, Mr. Lee went into the 
stand ; and addressing the multitude, told them it 
they would come under the arbor they would have a 
sermon. A burst of noisy merriment followed this 
announcement ; but the leader, with a mock gravity, 
came in, and the rest accompanied him and were soon 
seated. When all was still, Mr. Lee told the Eev. P. 
Courtney to preach them a sermon. Surprised, but 
willing, and not knowing whereunto the thing would 
grow, he complied, and took for his text the very 
appropriate words, "At midnight Paul and Silas 



IN VIRGINIA. 581 

prayed, and sang praises to God." He liad not been 
long preaching before a change came over the spirit 
of that reckless crowd of men. The dimly lighted 
grove, the hush of the night, the heavy tones of the 
preacher's voice, the cold autumnal air, and the stu- 
pifying effects of their potations, soon produced 
drowsiness, and this was succeeded by the deep and 
dreamless sleep of drunkenness. The infection 
spread rapidly ; it was soon general ; all were asleep. 
The preacher was careering on, midway in his dis- 
course, when a pull at the tail of his coat brought 
bim rather suddenly to a halt. ^*Stop," said Mr. 
Lee. Then pausing to see if any missed the sound, 
and no one stirring, he picked up his hat, saying, 
^* Softly ! — let's go to bed," and led the way back to 
the tent. The next morning, chilled to the bone, and 
stiff in every muscle, the sailors might be seen bending 
over the camp fires, with *^ curses, not loud, but deep," 
against the man that befooled them, drunk as they 
were, into listening to a midnight sermon ! Ere the 
trumpet called the worshippers to public prayers, the 
sailors had disappeared from the encampment, and 
came no more to disturb its hallowed employments." 
The first delegated General Conference assembled 
at the city of E'ew York on the first day of May. This 
body was composed of ninety delegates, representing 
eight Annual Conferences. The attention of the 
Conference was mainly directed to the settlement of 
two questions ; one in reference to the propriety of 
electing local preachers to the office of elder, the 
other, respecting the manner of appointing presiding 
elders. The first had been discussed in several pre- 



582 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

vious General Conferences, and was now vehemently 
opposed by Jesse Lee and other leading men, but 
after a fnll and able discussion, the measure was car- 
ried, and has since made a part of our ecclesiastical 
system. 

The *' Presiding Elder Question" had also been 
agitated as early as the General Conference of 1800, 
when William Ormond, of Virginia, moved, **that 
the yearly Conference be authorized by this General 
Conference to nominate and elect their own presiding 
elders," but the motion was lost. 

In 1808 the ejBPbrt to make this office elective was 
repeated. Ezekial Cooper and Joshua Wells moved 
that ^'each Annual Conference, respectively, without 
debate, shall annually choose by ballot its own presi- 
ding elders ;" this was lost by a vote of 73 to 52. 
At this session a determined effort was made to carry 
this measure. There was also a kindred design to 
make the board of presiding elders a legal advisory 
council to the Bishops in making the appointments. 
The question came up on a motion of Laban Clarke to 
make the presiding elders elective by the Annual Confer- 
ences. To this Nicholas Snethen moved as an amend- 
ment, "that the Bishops shall have the power to nom- 
inate them, and if the first nomination is not ratified 
by a majority of the Annual Conference, the Bishop 
shall proceed to nominate until a choice is made ; and 
in all cases each nomination shall be determined sep- 
arately by ballot without debate ;" this was lost. The 
original motion then came up, and was rejected by a 
vote of 45 to 42. 

Unquestionably, in the opinion of Asbury, these 



IN VIRGINIA. 683 

efforts were a covert attack on the Episcopacy ; and 
we think he judged correctly. He had long antici- 
pated trouble at this Conference. In a letter to Chris- 
topher Fry, dated September, 1810, he says : ** Per- 
haps there may be a struggle in the next General 
Conference, whether the government shall be Pres- 
byterian and local, or Episcopal in its small remains. 
If the poison of electioneering obtains, wo to presi- 
ding elders. They are the Bishops' men ; keep them 
back. But it will remain to know what powers are 
recorded, what the General Conference ceded to the 
delegated Conference — and if in dismembering Epis- 
copacy they will not dissolve themselves and violate 
the constitution. Bishop McKendree may say, * They 
made me ; let them unmake me.' I cannot say so 
altogether ; if I was made at all by the hand of the 
Lord and good men, I was made before they were ; 
before some forward children were born or born again. 
I cannot cast them off. I cannot do without them, 
if they can do without me. I must continue in the 
ship, storm or calm, near the helm, or before the 
mast. As long as I can, I will be with them." 

Eef erring to this contest, he says in his journal : 
** After a serious struggle of two days in General 
Conference to change the mode of appointing presi- 
ding elders, it remains as it was. Means had been 
used to keep back every presiding elder who was 
known to be favorable to appointments by the 
Bishops ; and long and earnest speeches have been 
made to influence the minds of the members. Lee, 
Shinn and Snethen were of a side ; and these are 
great men." 
49 



584 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

In a letter to T. L. Douglass, written after the 
close of the Conference, he refers to this measure in 
stronger terms : 

" Such a deliberate attempt to take away the last 
remains of Episcopacy, deprives us of our privileges, 
wholesale and retail. Ah ! have I lost the confi- 
dence of the American people and preachers ? or of 
only a few overgrown members that have been dis- 
appointed ; and the city lords who wish to be Bishops, 
Presiding Elders, Deacons, and to reign without us— 
over us ?" Again, in the same letter, he says : *^0h, 
to assault a man they know can neither fight nor fly ! 
For was it a man's covenant, I could soon show Gen- 
eral George Washington — resign." In another let- 
ler a few months later, he writes as if the matter 
preyed upon his mind and troubled him sorely; **In 
former times I have been impartial, indifferent, and 
have appointed good men that I knew were for a 
Presbyterian party ; but since they have made such an 
unwarrantable attack upon the Constitution in the 
very first General Conference after adoption, I will 
only trust such men as far as I can see them ; and let 
such men know that I know their principles, and dis- 
approve them. One argument might have been used 
at General Conference — that at the Constitution Con- 
ference (i. e., of 1808, which formed and adopted the 
Constitution), when the Constitution was ready for 
adoption, it was suspended to try what afterwards 
would be secured in it — who shall appoint the presi- 
ding elders? — lost then, and three or four times over. 
But behold and wonder ! Oh, my son, we must ^-k. 
our eyes steadily upon pages 23, 24 of our Discipline." 



IN VIRGINIA. 585 

The repugnance of Asbnry to this measure was 
evinced at the General Conference, as well as after- 
wards in letters to his friends. It has been said that 
he presided during the most exciting periods of the 
debate, and showed his opposition by sitting with his 
back to the speakers. Jesse Lee, who was in favor 
of the plan, had already made a speech. His oppo- 
nent, in replying, said that no man of common sense 
would use such arguments as Lee had presented. 
When Lee rose to make his rejoinder, he said with a 
peculiar tone and manner: ^'Mr. President, Brother 

has said that * no man of common sense' 

would have used such arguments as I did, in what I 
said when I was up before on this question. I am 
therefore compelled to believe, Mr. President, that 
the brother thinks me a man of uncommon sense." 
'* Yes ! yes !" said the Bishop, turning half round in 
his chair. ** Yes ! yes ! Brother Lee, you are a man of 
uncommon sense." *'Then, sir," said Lee, very 
quickly and pleasantly, ''I beg that uncommon atten- 
tion may be paid to what I am about to say." The 
Bishop resumed his position, and Lee went on with 
his speech. 

The Conference of 1813 was held at E"ew Berne, 
I^Torth Carolina. It met on the 10th of February. 
Bishops Asbury and McKendree presided. *' We 
opened our Conference," says Asbury, ** in Sister 
Tenkard's elegant school-room ; we had great order, 
great union, and great dispatch of business." There 
were forty members in attendance. Thirteen young 
preachers were admitted on trial ; twelve were 
received into full connection. The Conference was 



586 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

extremely cautious in raising men to orders in the 
Church. Aniong the candidates for the Deaconate, 
one was rejected because **in some instances he had 
been imprudent in finding fault with the families 
where he stopped, concerning his diet, sleeping too 
late in the morning," &g ; another was rejected because 
**it appeared he had both the first and second year 
been engaged in courting, which the Conference 
thought highly improper for a man so young in the 
ministry ;" on his promise of amendment, he was 
admitted into full connection, but not to Deacon's 
orders ; thirteen were elected to Elder's orders ; thir- 
teen located ; one was returned as supernumerary ; 
one had died. The number of local preachers admit- 
ted to orders was unusually large ; twenty-six were 
elected to the office of Deacon, and twelve to that of 
Elder. Among the former we find the following 
from Virginia : Wm. H. Coman, Sussex ; Anthony 
Payne, Sufiblk ; Wm. ElHot and John Moore, Greens- 
ville ; Hichard Eeaves, Amelia ; Wm. Finnell, Cum- 
berland ; Jno. Richardson and Obadiah Thompson, 
Williamsburg ; Richard Billaps, Gloucester ; John 
T. Nelson, Orange ; John Harris, Hanover ; Daniel 
Day and Benjamin Watts, Amherst ; Enoch Sullivan, 
Richmond ; Zach Hall, Manchester. Elders — John 
Laeley, Orange ; John Brownly, Gloucester ; Edward 
T. Rowzie, Hanover ; John Shepherd and John A. 
Cocke, Amherst ; Edward Dromgoole, Greensville ; 
Abner Early, Bedford ; Samuel K. Jennings, Lynch- 
burg ; Peter Robinson, Amelia ; Thomas Payne and 
Thomas Sparks, Frankhn. Two applications were 
rejected ; cue because the applicant W8S not, in the 



IN VIEGINIA. 587 

judgment of the Conference, ** sufficiently established 
in his opposition to slavery ;" the other for a similar 
reason, and because he was ^ * not sufficiently attentive 
in ruling and governing his family," 
. The deficiencies amounted to $1,390.67 ; collected 
from the circuits, 1266.99 ; received from the Char- 
tered Fund, 1112 ; from the Book Concern, $250. 

The membership was returned at 19,817 whites, 
and 6,334 colored ; the increase was 660 whites, and 
69 colored. There wxre 46 circuits reported; 74 
preachers were stationed. 

At this session a committee of five, viz : P. Bruce, 
J. Early, W. Jean, 0. Calloway and C. H. Hines, 
** was appointed to take into consideration the subject 
of slavery and report thereon." They made the fol- 
lowing report, which w^as adopted. 1. The preachers 
shall instruct the colored people in the principles and 
duties of religion, 2. To search out and pay par- 
ticular attention to all the classes of colored people in 
the bounds of their stations and circuits. 3. If any 
member of the M. E. Church be found guilty of car- 
rying on, directly or indirectly, the trade of slave 
speculation, he or she shall be expelled the Church." 

The following law question was presented and 
decided : *'Is it legal for a Presiding Elder, in any 
case, to call a committee to try a local preacher, and 
sit in the trial ?" The President gave it as his opinion 
*Uhat the Presiding Elder may do it, and it will be 
legal." An appeal was made from the President's 
opinion to the Conference, and after a lengthy discus- 
sion, the vote was taken, and the principle as stated 
was confirmed by the Conference. 
49* 



688 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The following record appears in the Minutes : **A 
Society, known by the name of the * Benevolent 
Society,' submitted to the care of this Conference the 
sum of |140 for the aid of married preachers, &c., 
and the Conference voted to accept it." Query — 
was this the origin of the present Relief Society ? 

Jesse Brown had closed his labors during the year, 
and entered into rest. He was a native of Amherst 
County, had been only four years in the work, and 
closed his life on the Buckingham circuit. In the Min- 
utes lie is described as a man of piety and zeal, and 
W'hile bis strength lasted, abundant in labors. As life 
drew to a close his afflictions increased ; but bis joy and 
confidence also increased. He w^as a witness of tb e per- 
fect love of God, and professed to retain its sanctifying 
influences as long as he lived. He continued to praise 
God while he bad breath, and his brethren doubted 
not that bis labors and sufferings ended together. 

Among the names of those received on trial at this 
Conference, that of Lewis Skidmore is the most 
noted. Like many other distinguished leaders of 
Methodism, he rose from the humbler walks of life. 
Born and reared in Fairfax County, he came to Rich- 
mond when a young man, and labored at the trade of 
a blacksmith. He w^as, at this time, a zealous and 
diligent Christian, already exhibiting those peculiar 
traits so usefully unfolded in his subsequent 
career. Through the influence of Stith Mead, he 
w'as induced to offer himself as a candidate for admis- 
sion into the itinerant ranks. From the time of his 
reception, he gave himself wdthout reserve to the work 
of saving souls. He rose rapidly in the confidence of 



IN VIRGINIA. 589 

his bretlireD, and was soon recognized as a leading 
spirit in the Conference. He became one of the great 
doctrinal preachers of Methodism. Perhaps no man 
was more eminently fitted by natural endowments for 
this peculiar work. His mind was clear, calm, and 
strong — order was its prevailing principle. His 
thoughts were arranged with the utmost precision, 
and when presented in his terse style, the sermon was 
like a well wrought chain Skilful in arraying his 
facts, and copious in forcible and familiar illustrations, 
he seldom failed to produce conviction in the minds 
of unprejudiced hearers. He possessed a degree of 
good nature that shone in all his discourses, and 
served to keep his most determined opponents on 
good terms with him, while they writhed under the 
sledge-hammer blows of his logic. When in com- 
pany with them, the genial sunshine of his heart soon 
dispelled the clouds which had gathered during a 
three hours' discussion of some theological dogma. 
In small matters, as in great, he was a man of 
order. He had ''a place for every thing, and every 
thing in its place." In his clothing, equipage, lan- 
guage, even in his measured tread, this might be 
seen. In the darkest night, he never wanted a light 
to fi.nd any article that he had stowed away in his 
capacious saddle-bags. He was a great economist. 
It may be doubted whether he ever expended a dollar 
uselessly in his long life. He was especially useful in 
the circulation of religious books ; into every field of 
labor he carried the very best Methodist publications, 
and few families were left un supplied with the ablest 
works issued by the Book Concern. He was as dili- 



690 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

gent in business, as he was fervent in spirit, and 
abundant in labors. 

In the days of his greatest efficiency as a preacher, 
he was noted for his sermons on Baptism. He seemed 
to feel that he had a special call to defend the views 
of his Church on this vexed question. And nobly 
did he perform the task. There was scarcely a circuit 
in the Conference where he had not, at a quarterly or 
Camp Meeting, held the people spell-bound by his 
able and luminous discussions of this subject. Con- 
fining himself on these occasions almost wholly to the 
teachings of the Scriptures, he reasoned thereupon 
with astonishing force and success. He thus planted 
the seeds of truth in the hearts of thousands, and con- 
firmed many, who by specious, but hollow arguments, 
had been made to waver in their faith. 

He was eminently fitted by nature for the toils and 
hardships of the itinerancy. In stature he was rather 
under the medium height, his frame was heavy and 
muscular, and in his later years inclined to corpulency. 
His complexion was quite dark, his brow high and 
full, his features well cut, his eyes black, with humor 
lurking in their quiet depths. His whole appearance 
was that of an earnest, practical, ready-witted, strong- 
minded man, intent upon the execution of a high and 
holy mission. 

In the Conference, he spoke but seldom ; but when 
he did, it was always to the purpose. He was a man 
of peace, and by some apt quotation from the Bible, 
or from the hymns of the Church, suddenly thrown 
into an exciting debate, he would check the rising 
passions, and enable reason to regain her sway. The 



IN yiRGINIA. 691 

writer would recall an instance of this kind. The 
first session of the Virginia Conference he ever 
attended, was a stormy one ; for many days debates 
had been going on of a most exciting nature ; at 
leogth the discussion closed, and the question, seriously 
involving the character of a prominent minister, was 
about to be taken. Just at that moment of anxious 
suspense, this venerable man arose and said : ** Mr. 
President." Instantly the attention of the whole body 
was fixed upon him ; he tl:ien repeated slowly, in his 
peculiarly impressive manner, these lines : 

'* Teach me to feel another's woe, 

To hide the faults I see ; 
That mercy I to others show, 

That mercy show to me," 

and then quietly took his seat. The eflect was man- 
ifest on the entire Conference ; it was like oil poured 
upon the troubled waters. The decision was given, 
but most solemnly, under a deep sense of responsi- 
bility to Him who will mete out to us as we measure 
to our fellow men. Forty- four years the name of 
Lewis Skidmore stood on the rolls of the Conference. 
For more than half this period he filled consecu- 
tively the office of Presiding Elder, a sufficient proof 
of his eminent qualifications for this responsible 
position. In the history of the Conference no other 
man, we believe, ever filled the office so long, and 
presided over so large a portion of the Conference 
territory. Worn down at length by the toils of 
many years, and yielding to the demands of age, 
he retired from the active service of the church, to 



592 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

pass the closing years of life amid the tranquil plea- 
sures of his own homestead. Here he was not idle ; 
the same practical good sense, and the same religious 
zeal, marked his course as a man of business and as 
a preacher. Not an idle Sabbath did he pass so long 
as he was able to reach an appointment, ^hile he 
had strength to make the journey, he was always in 
his place at the meeting of the Virginia Conference, 
and when his growing infirmities prevented his atten- 
dance, a brief, pointed and' affectionate letter, breath- 
ing the true spirit of the faithful minister and the 
humble, trustful Christian, was sure to find its way 
into the hands of the presiding Bishop. The an- 
nouncement of ** a letter from Brother Skidmore" 
was sure to command the attention of the Con- 
ference. 

In 1857 this good man closed his long and useful 
life, and entered into rest. ** The memory of the just 
is blessed." 

During the session of the Conference, Asbury was 
60 feeble as scarcely to be able to discharge his duties. 
On the previous Sabbath he **was two hours preach- 
ing, meeting the society, baptizing and ordaining," 
by which hard labor he *' gained a fever and a clear 
conscience." In New Berne he was compelled to use 
crutches, so great was the swelling in his feet. But, 
no sooner was the Conference over than he pushed on 
towards Virginia. After a ride ''of fifty miles" 
through ''excessive cold," he writes: "I fly, and a 
strange flight it is for a sick cripple." After a ter- 
rible journey of four days he reached " Cox's, on 
James River." '^ Here," he says, "flesh failed, and 



IN VIRGINIA. 593 

I wished for rest and found it." Another *^ heavy 
ride" brought him to **Mr. Blakey's happy family 
and pleasant mansion." On Sabbath he ** preached 
in Richmond Old Chapel, gave counsel to the tarrying 
society, baptized two infants, and ordained John Sul- 
livan and Wilham Whitehead Deacons." He spoke 
again in the afternoon to a congregation made up of 
the young and the aged. He found the Presbyterians 
and Episcopalians striving to have places of worship. 
Leaving Richmond he directed his course towards 
Alexandria, taking the upper part of the Northern 
Feck in his route. On this journey, he says, **we 
became entangled in the woods, and had a gentle 
upset, which brought us, without much damage, to 
the bottom of the hill ; a ride of two miles on horse- 
back brought us and our baggage to our lodgings for 
the night. My minjil enjoys great peace ; but I am 
in pain of body, and my legs are swelled." Deeply 
affected at the moral condition of the county 
through which he was passing, he exclaims, ^'My 
mind mourns over the citizens of King George 
County. for a Gospel day and work !" 

It is impossible to follow this incomparable man, 
and mark his sufferings and labors in the cause of 
Christ, without having the deepest feelings of the 
heart aroused. In the day he is ** plunging thirty 
miles through the clay" to a place of rest, and then, 
instead of retiring to his room, we find him toil-worn 
and feeble, ** lecturing in the family." The next day 
he makes another exhausting ride, hastens to the 
Church, and speaks ^^long and plainly" to listening 
hundreds. Then, again, we find him in a friend's 



594 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

house, ** sitting on the carpet," because of his suffer- 
ing, *^ reading, writing," and counselling his spiritual 
children ; the next day he is off again on his errand 
of mercy, through the biting cold, and as he struggles 
on we hear him say : ** I am feeble, and have to en- 
dure pain and cold, and perform double labor ;" but 
then follows the excellent language of faith, ** Blessed 
be God, for the support I receive !" — and again, as 
he enters some house of rest : ** My body is feeble, 
but my mind is greatly in God." No labors, save 
those of Wesley in England, can compare with those 
of Asbury in America ; — and, indeed, in long and 
dreary rides, in cheerless homes, in all the privations 
and discomforts attendant on itinerancy, in a new and 
sparsely settled country, the lite of the great American 
leader much more abounded than did that of the 
founder of Methodism. 

But few records remain of the progress of religion 
in the bounds of the Conference for this year. In 
some circuits, however, there were gracious revivals. 
On Amelia, under the preaching of Stith Mead, many 
souls were converted, some of whom remain to this 
day useful members of the militant Church. This 
work began at a ^-new meeting house called Piney 
Branch Chapel," and rapidly spread to other parts oi. 
the circuit. At a Camp Meeting held at Ford's, in 
Dinwiddle, seventy-seven were converted ; at another 
held soon after at Hocky Oak, in Powhatan, twenty- 
six professed to find pardon. ** On Sabbath, the 8th 
of August," says Mead, in his journal, ^'I preached 
at a new chapel called Cellar Creek, near Brother 
John Eoyal's, in Nottoway County, to a congi-egation 



IN VIRGINIA. 595 

composed principally of the nobility, and I scarcely 
ever saw a greater display of Divine power among a 
people of that description ; at a common appointment 
several of the first families in fortune and respecta- 
bility have obtained religion and joined the Church. 
Capt. William Fitzgerald, Dr. Campbell, and many 
more of the same notoriety, have joined our Church 
in other parts of the circuit." Methodism has al- 
ways maintained its position among the citizens of 
this county. In no part of Virginia has she been 
more cordially received and more fully sustained in 
all her doctrines and economy than by the people of 
Nottoway and the adjoining counties. In all that 
section of the Conference are still to be found within 
her pale, godly men and women, whose ancestors were 
enrolled in the army of the Lord by "Williams, and 
Pillmoor, by Bruce, Lee, Asbury and McKendree. 

The Conference of 1814 met at Norfolk on the 21st 
of February. Asbury and McKendree were present. 
Forty-two members attended. The sessions were 
held in the Masonic Hall. The business hours were 
from 8 A. M., to 11, and from 2, to 5 P. M. Fourteen 
were admitted on trial ; six were elected to Deacon's 
and two to Elder's orders ; two were readmitted ; 
eleven located ; one was dropped, and one expelled ; 
one had died ; nine local preachers were elected Dea- 
cons, and two to the office of Elder. No report ap- 
pears in the Minutes of deficiencies, nor of collections 
in the circuits ; the Conference drew from the Char- 
tered Fund $134, '^ as their division of the profits 
therefrom until the 30th of June." The dividend 
^rom the Book Concern was $250. 
50 



596 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The white membership was reported at 19,827 ; 
the colored at 6,361 ; the increase was hut 10 whites 
and 27 colored. 

The number of circuits was reduced to 37 by 
uniting several in different parts of the work ; 70 
preachers received appointments. 

" The Benevolent Society offered to the Cocference 
$116 for the benefit of travelling married preachers, 
and it was accepted." 

**A committee was appointed to consider and 
report upon a manuscript written by the Eev. W. S., 
denominated a * Treatise on the Education of Chil- 
dren.' " 

The committee settled the fate of the book hf the 
following report: *'The preamble is too elaborate 
and not very appropriate. 2. The subject matter is 
too fraught with self-commendation, apology for the 
author, &c. 3. The anecdote introduced in the 
sequel appears too eminently calculated to destroy the 
designed effects of the performance. 4. That the 
style is very exceptionable — many expressions being 
extremely harsh and vulgar. It is the opinion ot 
your Committee, therefore, that it will not be bene- 
ficial to the Conference, and that it be returned to the 
author." 

The reference of Asbury to this Conference shows 
that there were some unpleasant incidents connected 
with it, but what they were we have not been able fully 
to learn. ** Our Conference," he writes, ** rose on 
Tuesday, March 1st. We have been mighty in talk 
this session. I dare not speak my mind on the state 
of this place — its Church or its ministry. I endure 



IN VIRGINIA. 597 

all things for the elect's sake ; and rejoice that peace 
is again happily restored to the Society. Shall we 
not drop and locate more laborers than we receive ? 
We had a great many sermons preached, as usual ; 
and we have reason to hope-souls were converted. I 
ordained Deacons, and assisted my brethren in the 
ministration of the word." 

One of the difficulties at this session, as we have 
learned from a minister who was present, arose out , 
of the subject of ** dress." The preacher stationed 
in JSTorfolk had been very severe on the ladies for their 
indulgence in fine dressing, and made it the subject 
of comment in almost every sermon. The members 
became so much annoyed at his course that they at 
length petitioned the Presiding Elder to remove him; 
he was removed, and at the ensuing Conference 
brought charges against the Elder for his action in 
the case. In the investigation of the charges, a great 
deal was said as to the propriety of enforcing the Dis- 
ciplinary rule on dress. In the heat of the discussion 
Asbury rose and said, that he had travelled more 
extensively than any preacher in the connection, and 
he could say, that with a few exceptions, the Metho- 
dist women were- the plainest in the land. And as to 
the rule proscribing *'high heads and enormous bon- 
nets," he was sure that not one of the preachers had 
ever seen such things ; nor the ^* ruffles and rings" 
alluded to by Wesley. He had seen ladies in England 
with every finger covered with rings, and their arms 
with ruffles of costly lace, from the shoulder below 
the finger ends. For his part, he said he would 
greatly prefer to see women dress even in this extrav- 



598 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

agant manner, than to see -a preacher walk into the 
Conference room with his fair top boots, and red 
morocco straps hanging down to his ankles, and a 
great gold watch chain and seal dangling from his 
fob. This gave a quietus to the debate, we may pre- 
sume, and a keen rebuke to the wearers of fair top 
boots and gold watch chains. 

The Conference had lost an excellent member in 
the death of Leroy Merritt. He was a native of 
Bedford County, and had been six years in the work. 
He possessed talents which * ' highly recommended 
him as a useful and acceptable preacher." His last 
station was Portsmouth, and on his return to it from 
a visit to his relatives he was seized with a fever. 
"With great difficulty, he reached the house of a pious 
lady, and told her he had come there to die. His 
words were true. In a few days after, on the quiet 
Sabbath, " his happy soul took its exit in the triumph 
of faith, and fled, we do not hesitate to say, to an 
exalted seat in glory. His last words were, *I have 
gained the victory ! — come, Lord ; come, Lord ! I 
am ready to gol^glory, glory, glory! — roll on, 
eternity, eternity ! — roll on, ages, ages, ages.' " The 
death of such a man is often as precious to the Church 
as his life. 

Methodism was called this year to mourn the loss 
of one of her greatest lights. On the 3d of May, 
Thomas Coke died on his passage to Lidia. This 
eminent man w^as every way worthy to be the associate 
of Wesley and Asbury. Forty years he was an active 
laborer in the great field of the world. For nearly 
thirty, he had charge of all the foreign missions oi 



IN VIRGINIA. 599 

Methodism, and by his unremitting toil and ceaseless 
activity, many thousands of souls, in the most un- 
promising fields, were brought to the knowledge of 
God. *' Under his influence," said the British Con- 
ference in noticing his death, *^ missions were estab- 
lished in almost every English island in the West 
Indies. The flame of his missionary zeal burst forth 
on British America. Societies were also formed by 
him, or under his superintendence, in I^ova Scotia, 
New Brunswick, and the islands on the eastern coast 
of the American Continent, and subsequently in the 
Bahamas and Burmuda ; and to the coast of Africa 
also he directed his zealous efforts." In the prosecu- 
tion of this noble work ^*he stooped to the very 
drudgery of charity, and gratuitously plead the cause 
of a perishing world from door to door." Eighteen 
times he crossed the Atlantic, besides many other 
shorter voyages ; his land journeys were measured by 
thousands of miles. In our own land he proclaimed 
salvation from the centre to the utmost border of oui 
settlements. ^' In labors more abundant^^^ is the fit 
motto of such a man. This is proved not less by his 
literary labors than by his vast travels and constant 
preaching. His Commentary on the Bible, extending 
through six large quarto volumes, would of itself be 
a sufiicient proof of his industry, but to this he added 
a History of the West Indies, in three octavo volumes, 
besides a number of sermons, and controversial 
pamphlets, in defence of the doctrinal views of 
Methodism. Other valuable works he projected, such 
as the *' History of the Bible," and the '^Cottager's 
Bible," but they were not issued, except the last 
50. 



600 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

named, of which a few numbers were published. 
These works were none the less valuable for being 
mostly compilations. Of his Commentary, he says, 
* ' he had only been like the bee, culling honey from 
every flower." It W'as held in high esteem by the 
English Conference, from whom he twice received a 
vote of thanks for its publication. 

The following elegant, and impartial description of 
Coke, is from the pen of his biographer, Samuel 
Drew^ ^*Dr. Coke was low in stature, and, as he 
advanced in age, was inclined to corpulency ; but he 
was finely proportioned, and exhibited a pleasing 
figure. His skin was remarkably fair ; his eyes were 
dark, lively, and piercing. His hair bordered on 
black, until his declining years, when it became 
sprinkled with the hoar of age. His face was par- 
ticularly handsome. A peculiar freshness, through 
every stage of life, distinguished his countenance, 
which was generally animated with an engaging 
smile. These, in their combined effect, gave to the 
whole a degree of expressive softness, that refined 
the masculine features without reducing them to a 
state of efleminacy. His voice was soft, engaging 
and melodious ; and unless carried beyond its natural 
tone, when it became rather harsh and dissonant, it 
rarely failed to captivate those who heard. 

* ' The animation which beamed in his countenance 
was a striking index of his natural disposition. 
Warm, sanguine, and confident, he rarely hesitated 
in a state of indecision ; and, having fixed his reso- 
lution, he was not to be deterred in the execution ot 
his purposes by the apprehension of meeting a lion 



IN VIRGINIA. 601 

in the way. His uncommon activity frequently led 
him to carry his schemes into effect before they were 
ripe for execution ; and, as a natural consequence, 
the same sanguine disposition which induced a promp- 
titude of action, exposed him to the charge of indis- 
cretion. 

** His understanding, though naturally good, was not 
to be ranked among the higher orders of human 
intellect. It was comprehensive, but not profound ; 
and was better calculated to produce respect, than to 
excite amazement. Among common spirits, that take 
their stand in life near the mediocrity of human 
existence, it shone with a superlative degree of lustre. 

*' In early life his learning and literary acquirements 
were considerable ; but the department in the Church 
which he was afterward called to fill, so far engrossed 
his time as to allow him no opportunity to make any 
proficiency in those recondite sciences which he ar- 
dently loved ; he only attended to the cultivation of 
philology, criticism, oratory, logic, and metaphysics, 
so far as was necessary to qualify him for the circle in 
which it was his lot to move. 

*' As a preacher, his talents were always displayed 
to the greatest advantage when he applied himself to 
the hearts of his hearers ; and at this point he seemed 
invariably to aim. The divinity of Christ, and the 
direct witness of the Spirit, were topics on which he 
delighted to dwell. On these he enlarged in strains of 
the most affecting animation, and in a style that, 
being at once declamatory, nervous, impressive and 
familiar, was calculated to awaken the attention and 
affect the heart. 



602 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

**Iiito a detail of argument he seldom entered, but 
he supplied the deficiency by a copious appeal which 
he generally made to Scripture authority, with which 
his mind was abundantly stored. Being a full be- 
liever in the divinity of Christ, he waged perpetual 
war against Arianism and Socianism ; and in the 
warmth of his zeal, his language on these occasions 
was sometimes harsh and unguarded, and better cal- 
culated to irritate than to convict. On the fashionable 
vices which prevailed, his expressions were also occa- 
sionally quaint and offensive ; and his comparisons 
and illustrations not always selected with sufficient 
care. But even with these blemishes in his public 
discourses, he was generally popular ; and he rarely 
failed to collect crowded audiences among the fash- 
ionable and gay, on whom his strictures fell with the 
greatest degree of severity. 

** His manners were highly polished and his address 
in private life was peculiarly polite and obliging. He 
was cheerful, animated and free, and rarely failed to 
be communicative, unless he suspected that he was 
assailed with questions from improper motives. His 
incessant travels, his acquaintance with the world, 
and his knowledge of human character, furnished 
him with an ample store of anecdotes, which enli- 
vened conversation, while they captivated, amused 
and instructed his company. 

*' In Conference, he was eloquent, commanding, 
polite, easy, comprehensive, and energetic. But he 
had been so long accustomed to opposition, that per- 
severance became necessary for Lim to carry his pur- 
poses into effect; and in most instances it never forsook 



IN VIRGINIA. 603 

him until his efforts were crowned witli snccess. On 
these, and on many other- occasions, he has been 
accused of giving way to a spirit of irritation, but 
this charge is only true under certain restrictions. 
And when convinced of his error, lie was more ready 
to make au acknowledgment, and to beg pardon for 
his deviation from the rigid rules of decorum than he 
had been to furnish an occasion for either. The 
peculiar grace with which this was done rarely failed 
to procure for him the veneration and esteem of those 
whom he had opposed. If from the aggregate 
amount of excellencies in his character we subtract 
his irritability, his 'profusion of money, his improvi- 
dence, his precipitancy, and his occasionally severe 
expressions in the pulpit, nothing of magnitude will 
remain which his scrutinizing survivors would not be 
proud to own." 

Asbury, w^ho knew him long and intimately, pays 
the following eloquent tribute to his memory. ' ' Coke, 
the gentleman, the Christian, the scholar, the writer, 
the superintendent, the preacher, the missionary, is 
no more ; all immortal, all divine ! Take him in 
every direction, the greatest man of all the Oxonian 
Methodists. I suppose sixteen times he crossed the 
Atlantic ; the seventeenth to Bombay on the grand 
Asain mission. In going to Ceylon he died. Possi- 
bly, for thirty-five years the true slave of the Methodist 
Church. He spent his own, and his wife's fortune, 
and his life, in the missionary work. He begged 
thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, for the w^ork 
of God." '' Jonathan, thou wast slain in thy high 
places. I am distressed for thee,, my brother Jona- 



604 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

than ; very pleasant hast thou been unto me ; tJiy love 
to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." 

The last great work of Coke was the projection of 
the mission to India. For many years his eye had 
been turned towards that grand and inviting field, but 
it was not until he had placed the missionary work in 
other quarters upon a firm basis, that he felt himself 
free to penetrate those vast regions of Paganism. 
With his accustomed zeal he prepared for the arduous 
task. In his sixty-seventh year, he writes : '*Iam 
learning the Portuguese language continually, and 
am perfectly certain I shall conquer it before I land 
in Ceylon." At the Conference* he presented eight 
men who were willing to join him in the hazardous 
enterprise. He silenced all opposition on the score of 
expense by offering to furnish, out of his private for- 
tune, six thousands pounds, if so much should be 
needed. The Conference approved the measure, bor- 
rowed of him three thousand pounds, and sent him 
forth on his glad errand. He sailed with his com- 
panions on the 1st of January, 1814, and on the 
morning of the 3rd of May, in the middle of the 
Indian Ocean, his servant, on opening the door of his 
state-room, found all that was mortal of Thomas 
Coke, cold, stiff, and lifeless, stretched upon the cabin 
floor. His body was buried in the sea, to appear no 
more 'till the " trumpet shall sound and the dead shall 
be raised incorruptible." Then shall Coke come 
forth, *^a diamond of the purest water," to blaze in 
the crown of Him who liveth and reigneth forever. 

On the 20th of February, Asbury, '' in great wea- 
riness," opened the Yirgioia Conference at Lynch- 



IN VIRGINIA. 60S 

burg. He was assisted by his faithful co-laborer, 
McKendree. The veteran leader *^ preached on Sun- 
day in the new, neat, brick chapel, forty feet by fifty." 
He essayed to do so again, but it was beyond his 
strength. " I failed," he says, — " I have been almost 
strangled with an asthmatic cough, and vomiting of 
blood." He was compelled to " keep the house and 
busy himself to organize the stations," while Mc- 
Kendree presided in the Conference. His heart re- 
joiced to learn that a treaty of peace had been made, 
and that the gospel would no longer be restrained by 
the violence of war. 

At this session, eleven were received on trial ; one 
was readmitted ; ten travelling, and thirteen local 
preachers elected Deacons ; six of the former and 
seven of the latter elected Elders ; eleven located ; 
four probationers were dropped ; none had died. 
The collections amounted to $215.53 ; received from 
the Chartered Fund, |140 ; from the Book Concern, 
$200. The amount of deficiencies is not stated. 
*' We settled," says Asbury, *^ at seventy-one dollars 
each man." The returns showed a heavy loss in 
members. The whites were reported at 18,682 ; the 
colored at 5,017 ; the decrease was 1,145 whites, and 
1,344 colored. In view of this loss Asbury asked : 
*^Is there not a declination in gifts as well as in 
members ?" The number of appointmeiits was 41, 
sapplied by 67 preachers. 

The Conference, as we have already seen, was very 
strict in passing the characters of the travelling 
preachers, and in the examination of local preachers 
applying for ordination. Several were dropped at 



606 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

this session for deficiency in talents ; others for remiss- 
ness and inattention to their duties, were admonished, 
if present, by the Bishop before the Conference ; if 
absent, they were admonished by letter. A number 
of local preachers were refused ordination because, in 
the judgment of the Conference, they were ** deficient 
in point of talents." The Conference was also quite 
strict in reference to the pubUcation of books or 
pamphlets, by the members, without the consent of 
the body. Two of the oldest and most useful 
preachers were rebuked for so doing under a resolu- 
tion *' that it was improper." In reference to one of 
these, they went so far as actually to resolve '^ not to 
employ him unless he promised not to publish any 
more books or paniphlets without the consent of the 
Conference." He gave " satisfactory assurances that 
he would publish no more books between that time 
and the next General Conference." 

The session of 1816 w^as held at Kaleigh, Korth 
Carolina, in the month of February. Bishop Mc- 
Kendree presided. Kothing is said of Asbury in the 
Minutes ; if present, he was too feeble to take any 
part in the business of the Conference. Thirty-nine 
members w^ere in attendance ; twelve were admitted 
on trial ; one readmitted ; four probationers were 
dropped ; four located ; nine travelling, and seventeen 
local preachers, were ordained Deacons ; four travel- 
ling, and two local Deacons, were raised to Elder's 
orders ; one had died. Ko reports of moneys received 
from any quarter appear on the Journal. The mem- 
bership was reported at 18,732 whites, and 5,621 
blacks ; there was a gain of more than 600 colored, 



IN VIRGINIA. 607 

but only 50 white members ; forty circuits were re- 
ported, and sixty-six preachers were stationed. I 

The following delegates to the General Conference 
were elected : P. Bruce, W. Jean, Thos. Burge, E. 
Cannon, Thomas Moore, C. H. Hines, E. Drake, J. 
C. Ballew, M. M. Dance and Minton Thrift. 

** A memorial was presented and read to Conference 
from certain persons in Lynchburg, members of the 
M. E. Church, praying that some regulations maybe 
made respecting slavery ; and for this purpose a com- 
mittee of the following persons was appointed, and 
directed to report at the next Annual Conference, 
viz : P. Bruce, Thomas Burge, E. Drake, E. Cannon 
and C. H. Hines." 

Ewen Johnson had left the field of toil for the rest 
of heaven. He was a native of Caswell county, 
Forth Carolina. Eight years he had toiled in the 
ministry. He was ** of an humble and timid spirit," 
but ** persevering and faithful;" had ** wholly given 
himself up to the work of the ministry, and sought 
to glorify God in the reformation and salvation of 
men." Suffering great bodily affliction, he lost the 
power of speech shortly before his death, but his 
mind was clear and calm. **The day before his de- 
cease, he arose, fell on his knees, clapped his hands 
together, and appeared to be filled with the Divine 
presence. Thus departed that servant of the Lord 
to receive his reward, a crown that fadeth not away." 

A little more than a month after the close of this 
Conference, the American Methodist Church was 
called to mourn the death of Francis Asbury. On 
51 



608 MEMORTALS OF METHODISM 

tT^e 31st of March, like a shock of com fully ripe, he 
was gathered into the heavenly garner. This sad 
event was not unexpected. In his annual visitations 
to the Conferences and Churches during the last de- 
cade of his life, " in age and feebleness extreme," he 
discharged the duties of his high office. And as his 
venerable form disappeared from the log chapel, the 
Conference room of the village, or the city, his spir- 
itual children gazed after him with sad hearts and 
tearful eyes, sorrowing that soon they should see his 
face no more. His last year was as full of toil as any 
of the forty-five he had spent in planting Methodism 
in the New "World. "With an incurable disease, rap- 
idly running into consumption, preying day and night 
on his feeble and tottering frame, he went from South 
Carolina as far north as N^ew Hampshire, and from 
Delaware as far west as Ohio. In August he writes 
at Zanesville : '^ Since the 20th of June we have 
passed through N"ew Hampshire, Vermont, E"ew Jer- 
sey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio, to Muskingum 
Biver, making nine hundred miles ; two hundred of 
which ought, in our opinion, to be called the worst on 
the continent." In this vast circuit he omitted none 
of his usual labors, except when his strength utterly 
failed him. He presided in the Conferences, made 
out the stations, preached at Camp and Quarterly 
meetings, wrote letters to all parts of the work, or- 
dained travelling and local preachers as they met him 
at certain points in his journey, ** visited from house 
to house with his mite subscription," begging money 
for the support of his preachers, and, as a ** member 
of the Bible Society in Philadelphia, distributing many 



IN VIRGINIA. 609 

hundreds of Testaments." In the midst of all these 
labors, which a man in full health and vigor might 
have shrunk from, he was a worn and wasted old man, 
now lying in bed and ** coughing the whole night ;" 
and anon enduring the torture of four blisters, ** ap- 
plied for a great inflammation in his face and jaws." 
He says of himself as his career drew towards its 
brilliant close : ** I die daily — am made perfect by 
labor and suffering, and fill up still what is behind." 
But he is fully bent on his mission; his bodily in- 
firmities demand that he shall pause and by the aid 
of medicines alleviate his pains, but he exclaims, 
** There is no time or opportunity to take medicine in 
the daytime, I must do it at night." And thus he 
worked while it was day, although he felt himself 
* ^wasting away with a constant dysentery and cough." 
Noble and sublime example of Christian heroism ! 

In this last journey his mind seemed gifted with 
prophetic knowledge. He and McKendree had a 
long and earnest talk '* about the aflairs of the Church 
and his future prospects." Asbury told him that the 
western part of the empire would bo the glory of 
America for the poor and pious ; that it ought to be 
marked out for five Conferences, to wit : Ohio, Ken- 
tucky, Holston, Mississippi and Missouri, and he 
traced out the lines and boundaries of this inviting 
field. He told his colleague that as he had passed the 
allotted period of human life and was out of health, 
it could not be expected that he should visit the ex- 
tremities of the vast territory every year, preside in 
from eight to twelve Conferences, and travel six thou- 
sand miles in eight months. But still in his decline 



610 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

he hoped to be able to preside in every other Confer- 
ence along his route; and, **as to the stations," he 
says, *' I should never exhibit a plan unfinished, but 
still, get all the information in my power so as to en- 
able nie to make it perfect, like the painter who 
touches and retouches until all parts of the picture 
are pleasing." 

Thus full of labors and sufferings, and full of plans 
for the Church he loved so well, the venerable man 
having wintered in the South, which he had '* visited 
thirty times in thirty-one years," and where he 
* ^usually gained health," turned his face towards the 
Korth. He had made his last visit to the genial, 
sunny clime. He flattered himself with the hope of 
reaching Baltimore, the seat of the General Confer- 
ence. But God had ordered otherwise. His disease 
progressed so rapidly as to defy the power of medi- 
cine, and the remaining strength of a constitution 
already shattered by repeated attacks of sickness, and 
worn down by excessive toil, was almost spent. But 
his great soul bore up under all, and seemed to defy 
the power of the destroyer. 

By slow stages he continued to travel from the 
South, carefully attended by his devoted travelling 
companion, Rev. John W. Bond. About the middle 
of March he reached Manchester, and put up with 
his old friend, John Potts. He was extremely feeble 
and his journey had been made with much suffering. 

"We are indebted to Rev. Philip Courtney for in- 
teresting reminiscences of this last visit of Asbury to 
Richmond. Soon after his arrival at Manchester, 
Father Courtney went over to preach on the Sabbath, 



IN VIRGINIA. 611 

He of course called to see the Bishop, and found him 
in a very feeble condition. Asbury requested him to 
remain with him, and sent Mr. Bond to preach in his 
stead. During their conversation, Asbury broached 
a plan for bringing the local preachers more actively 
into the itinerant work. The plan was this : The 
local preachers living in a city, as in Eichmond, for 
example, should procure ahorse, and each, in succes- 
sion, travel a round on the circuit. There were six 
local preachers at that time in Eichmond, thus each 
would twice a year make the round of the circuit. 
At the close of the year, they were to select one of 
their number to attend the Annual Conference ; or in 
case of a failure to select, then the preacher who 
made the last round was to attend as their represen- 
tative. We have no information as to whether the 
plan was practised extensively, if at all. 

Asbury, after remaining a few days in Manchester 
to recruit his exhausted strength, came over to Eich- 
mond and lodged with Eev. Archibald Foster, who 
lived on Main street, a httle above the Market bridge, 
in the house now occupied as a seed store by Mr. 
Palmer. Here he remained for a week confined to 
his room. It was during this time that he had an 
interesting interview with Bishop Moore, of the Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church. It seems that a man who 
had been a "Wesleyan preacher in England, and after- 
wards in this country, had come from the South 
seeking admission into the P, E. Church. Asbury, 
ever watchful over the interests of Christ's kingdom 
in all its branches, heard of his intention, and deter- 
mined to put Bishop Moore on his guard against this 
51* 



612 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

unworthy app] leant. He therefore sent for Mm and 
warned him not to lay hands on the head of this 
person ; he had known him in England and this 
country, and he knew him to be a troublesome and 
bad man. He then said in substance: "Bishop 
Moore, in passing through your Diocese you will find 
but few Episcopal churches, and these in a sad state 
of decay, with but few communicants ; but in almost 
every neighborhood you will fi.nd an unpretending 
little clap-board meeting house. In these, an humble, 
pious people assemble to worship God in spirit and 
in truth. Go into these houses and preach to the 
people that gather in them. Eecognise them as the 
children of God, and as true Christians, and you will 
greatly promote the cause of Christ." This scene 
was one of thrilling interest. Bishop Moore was 
deeply im^pressed by the manner and tone of Asbury. 
Both were representative men ; both filled the same 
high ofiice, and were greatly beloved by their respec- 
tive churches. The one, full of strength and zeal, 
had, but a few years before, begun the cultivation of 
his portion of the Lord's vineyard ; the other, feeble 
and failing, but full of faith and peace, looked over 
a prospect spreading far on every side, in which he 
beheld thousands of branches of the True Vine, 
planted by his own hand, fiourishing in strength and 
beauty, and yielding the fruits of holiness ; — these he 
commended to the care and culture of his younger 
and stronger brother, as he leaned upon his staff in 
the late evening of a well spent life. " Behold, how 
good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 
together in unity." 



IN VIRGINIA. 613 

A few days after this interview, Asbury delivered 
his last public testimony. His friends, fearing he 
might die in the effort to preach, endeavored to dis- 
suade him from the task. But he resisted them, say- 
ing that he must once more deliver the gospel message 
in Eichmond. He was taken to the door of the old 
Church, at the corner of 19th and Franklin streets, 
in a carriage, and thence borne in a chair to the 
pnlpit and seated on a table. Nearly an hour he 
spoke with much fervor and affection from the words : 
**For he will finish the work, and cut it short in 
righteousness : because a short work will the Lord 
make upon the earth." Eomans ix. 28. The sermon 
was delivered with much difficulty ; at brief intervals 
he paused to recover breath ; it was like the last words 
of a dying father to his children. The hearers were 
deeply, powerfully affected. ** How could it bo other- 
wise ?" asks one in describing the scene. " To be- 
hold a venerable old man, under the dignified char- 
acter of an ecclesiastical patriarch, whose silver locks 
indicated that time had already numbered his years, 
and whose pallid countenance and trembling limbs 
presaged that his earthly race was nearly finished : to 
see in the midst of these melancholy signals of de- 
caying nature a soul beaming with immortality, and 
a heart kindled with divine fire from the altar of 
God — to see such a man, and to hear him address 
them in the name of the Lord of Hosts, on the grand 
concerns of time and eternity ! What heart so insen- 
sible as to withstand the impressions that such a scene 
was calculated to produce ?" 

This sermon was preached at 3 o'clock Sunday 



614 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

afternoon, March 24th. Exhausted almost to faulting 
by the effort, he was borne to his carriage, and taken 
to his lodgings. On Monday he rested. Tuesday he 
set out, hoping to be able to reach Baltimore by easy 
stages ; the next day he found it necessary to rest. 
On Thursday he started again, and the day after 
reached the house of his old friend, George Arnold, 
of Spottsylvania. He had hoped to reach Fred- 
ericksburg, twenty miles beyond, but the severity of 
the weather and his failing strength prevented. On 
Friday evening he grew worse ; the night was one of 
much suffering. The next morning the family pro- 
posed to send for a physician, but he objected, saying 
that his breath would be gone before the doctor could 
get there. All day and night he suffered greatly, and 
it was evident that his end was drawing near. He 
said he had no special communication to make to the 
Church, having fully expressed his mind in his ad- 
dresses to Bishop McKendree and the General Con- 
ference. ** On Sunday, at 11 o'clock, he inquired if 
it was not time for meeting; but recovering his 
recollection, he desired that the family might be 
called together. Brother Bond sung, prayed, and 
expounded the twenty-first chapter of Revelation. 
Throughout the exercises he appeared to be collected 
and much engaged in devotion. They ofl'ered him a 
little barley water, but he was unable to swallow, and 
his speech began to fail. Observing the agony of 
Brother Bond's distress, he raised his hand, and 
looked joyfully at him. Brother Bond then asked him 
if he felt the Lord Jesus Christ to be precious ? He 
seemed to exert all his remaining strength, and raised 



IN VIRGINIA. 615 

both his hands as a token of triumph ; and in a few 
minutes after, as he sat in his chair with his head 
supported by Brother Bond's hand, without a struggle, 
he breathed his last on Sunday, the 31st of March, 
1816. 

Thus died Francis Asbury, ** after having devoted 
to the work of the ministry fifty-five years, forty-five 
of which were spent in visiting the cities, villages, 
and wildernesses of North America ; during thirty of 
these, he filled the highly responsible office, and con- 
scientiously discharged the arduous duties of General 
Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church." 

In their obituary notice of their father and leader, 
his sons in the ministry well said : ** When we count 
the thousands throughout this vastly extensive conti- 
nent, who, with affectionate veneration, owned him 
as their spiritual father, we may question if a weightier 
charge has been committed to any man since the days 
of the Apostles ; and when the records of his life 
shall meet the public eye, who, that patiently examines 
and candidly decides, will be bold enough to say that 
since that time duties so great and so variotis have 
been by one man more faithfully performed ?" The 
unfoldings of his life have long since confirmed this 
opinion of his co-laborers. During the period of his 
ministry he preached not less than eighteen thousand 
sermons, presided in more than two hundred Annual 
Conferences, stationed thousands of preachers, or- 
dained more men to the ministry than any other man 
ever did, and travelled two hundred thousand miles. 
When nearly seventy years of age, he writes to a 
friend ; '^ I purpose six thousand miles a year, if God 



616 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM. 

will help me ; meet nine Conferences, and write a 
letter for every day in the year. If possible, let us 
preach as we have never preached before. Let us 
fight the good fight of faith." 

The letters of Asbury by which he encouraged and 
stimulated his sons in the Gospel, and infused into 
them his own pure and triumphant faith, form the 
most interesting portion of his literary remains. 
They show the heart of this incomparable man beyond 
anything we find in his published works. He speaks 
in them, without reserve to his beloved children, of 
his suiFerings, trials, and triumphs ; of his deep 
sorrow when Zion languishes, of his heartfelt 
rejoicings when she moves on her path of light, 
** clear as the snn, fair as the moon, and terrible as 
an army with banners." In 1814, in the midst of 
the desolations of war, he writes : ** My son. Great, 
great grace attend us in these evil, evil days. may 
churches, pastors, people, escape the dreadful slumber, 
and be all awake. No more the glorious increase of 
8, 10, 18, or 20,000 added to the Church, through 
wasting sickness, and the thousands called to expedi- 
tions. The never to be forgotten Otterbine said to 
me, many years ago, that war was the greatest judg- 
ment of God, and unproductive of any good, because 
we would always bo looking at men, means, and 
measures, and naturally forget God." Again, speak- 
ing of his sufferings and hopes, he says: '* Bishop 
McKendree and myself parted, some thought never 
to meet in time. Six weeks' confinement, almost 
given up by my doctors and friends ; if the gates of 
death were near, they were gates of glory to me. 



IN VIRGINIA. 617 

Reduced beyond measure, total loss of appetite, six- 
teen times bled, three times blistered ; heaven, glory, 
all in sight ; the work of God plain ; to view the 
rectitude of my intentions in all my labors — my mar- 
tyr's life, and readiness for a martyr's death. * * * 
I am now a walking skeleton. I go on in the way of 
duty ; the gTeatest soul to preach and do duty, but 
bodily and mental powers weak. brother, attend 
to all parts of your important duty in health. Next 
to the atonement and assurance of the justifying and 
sanctifying, practical righteousness of Christ, it com- 
forts me that I began so soon and made such haste — 
and to think on the souls sent to glory ! if the 
Methodists will walk by the same rules, in forty years 
more British and Spanish America will be peopled 
with the gospel and saints, if it is six or ten thousand 
miles in length. the Bible Societies in England 
and America, spreading truth all over the world! 
Africa ! Asia ! the Isles of the sea ! Come home 
the seed of Abraham !" Referring to the means of 
support for himself and McKendree, he says : 
*' Bishop McKendree's horse and money fails, and 
eight hundred miles to New England. His benevo- 
lence would not let him take his dividend. Possibly 
we receive this year $140. I ride in style, [ironically,] 
but what is to support me ? A horse, five dollars in 
change ; $20 from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, from 
June 16th to July 23rd — still onward we go, in the 
strength of our God, in the line of duty. My love 
to all the fathers and mothers in Israel, brethren and 
sisters. Tell them, pray on, pray on, watch on, 



618 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

fight, wrestle on. I remember the little children. 
God be gracious to us all." 

Such were the letters by which he moved preachers 
and people to follow him as he followed Christ. 

As he failed in strength, he grew more earnest and 
eloquent in his appeals to the preachers. To one he 
writes : ** the grace we need ! And what a fulness 
we want ; meekness more than Moses — courage like 
Joshua — faith like Abraham — a spirit of prayer like 
Jacob — zeal like Paul — grace, grace !" To 
another : ** May the great Head of the Church pre- 
pare us all to preach all the gospel doctrines in their 
order ; to saints, sinners, backsliders, legalists, 
deists, and hypocrites. Alas ! what little have I done, 
what little have I suffered ! Me, who am less than 
the least of all saints, not worthy to be called a 
preacher, much less a Bishop, and an apostolic suc- 
cessor. I want to live to make the best of a poor 
day's work. The longer I run, now forty years, the 
the further I am behind. ISTever had we such scaf- 
folding for the work of God ; far beyond all former 
appearances or calculations. But above all. Oh the 
souls already gone to glory!" To a third: ^'Oh! 
my brother, let us make haste as men of one business ; 
let us make the best of time ; it is short ; because 
iniquity will abound, the love of many people, and 
preachers, is waxing cold, and we should be warmer 
than ever we were in the work of God. How shall 
we be wise like the serpent and harmless like the 
dove ?" 

The allusions of Asbury to his long and perilous 
journeys are never made in a complaining spirit, but 



IN YIEGINIA. 619 

like a true veteran of the Cross, tie calmly surveys 
the field of strife, and joyfully looks forward to his 
rest and his crown. ** Serious times with me," he 
writes ; ** an old soldier of Jesus, I handle my cratch 
and say how fields have been won. In the 68th year 
of my age, 52nd of my ministry, and 42nd of my 
American Mission, I have lived to see above 200,000 
in Methodist fellowship, 3,000 local laborers, and 700 
travelling laborers. I have lived to see the French, 
the Kevolutionary and the present war ; [1812,] but 
may all our Church and !N"ational afflictions be sanc- 
tified to all when they come to press on rich and poor ; 
patience, faith, prudence, love, diligence, long-suffer- 
ing, gentleness, guide us." Again : **Kempis says, 
* they that travel much are rarely sanctified.' 0, my 
brother, to converse with all sorts of spirits and 
tempers, all characters, all opinions, in all companies. 
We have boarded two days, and bedded one night in 
taverns — all board, all tables, all families — such a life 
is ours ; two old men, unknown, padding along. 
Hail the West and South ! they are cold or hot ; a 
people I know and can trust ; but the mercies of my 
God sweeten every toil and make every region 
pleasing." In the same strain he writes: *'My 
earthly house totters and shakes under the weight of 
67 years of travel and labor, so that I can do but 
little, but our gracious God whom we serve can do 
what he pleaseth ; a little while and heaven will 
crown our best wishes. I hope we shall join to sing 
redeeming love in yon bright world." 

The great heart of Asbury embraced all mankind 
in its sanctified affection. In one of his letters he 
52 



620 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

says : *^ I never knew how to love the Canadians till 
I visited them at the hazard of my life, and the loss 
of the use of my limbs and health ; and never knew 
how well I loved my children in the States, till sepa- 
rated by the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario." 

His letters to his personal friends among the laity 
breathe the true spirit of a Christian Bishop. To one 
of the Elect Ladies of Methodism, Mrs. Mary Mason 
Tabb, of Gloucester, Virginia, he writes : ** My dear 
sister, are you heaven born and heaven bound? 
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the 
knowledge of God, and Jesus our Lord. My female 
correspondents are few, except a few of the preacher's 
wives that write to me in the same letter with their 
husbands. I have once in a while to address a letter 
to a poor widow in distress, and once in a while to 
her sister, formed of the same clay and redeemed by 
the same blood, a daughter of the same God ; but 
the Lady sister holds her servants, rides in her coach, 
possesses her thousands. You have your cares, and 
fears, and prayers, about those around you, and nearly 
connected by conjugal and tender ties. Only look 
well to your own ways. Your table may be sump- 
tuously spread every day, but you need not fare so. 
Mr. Wesley observed that it was brought against the 
Eich Man as a charge, and adds, that no man can be 
a Christian and fare richly every day. You can be 
clear of tho great transgression. You have not 
family prayers and religious exercises as you wish, 
yet you can retire often, and pray always ; you cannot 
hear as many sermons, but you can read Mr. Wesley's 
at any time, and other good books ; you can [cannot ?] 



IN VIRGINIA. 621 

give and do good as you wish, but your heart is given 
up to God in love and charity. God has been gra- 
cious to me when travelling, preaching and going on 
my hands and knees, and crutches, with a regular fit 
of rheumatism and inflammation in my breast — ^passing 
the Lakes in great pain, patience and power. The 
continent is waked with the power of God, and per- 
secution follows ; the more the world hates us, God 
will love us." 

His friendships were strong and pure. On return- 
ing, in his vast circuit of five thousand miles a year, 
he often found that some cherished friend had been 
called to rest. It was his invariable rule, on such 
occasions, to visit the grave of the departed and there 
meditate and pray. A touching scene of this kind is 
given by Kev. Thomas Ware. ** Soon after the 
death of General William Bryan, of Craven county, 
Korth Carolina, Bishop Asbury came to his house and 
was greatly afflicted to find the General gone. He 
walked the floor in sadness. He called me to walk 
out with him. *Show me,' said he, *his grave.' 
As we returned he said, * Thomas, you have often 
heard me say I was almost a stranger to the luxury 
of tears, but they have come to me to-day, and I am 
greatly relieved.' On our return to the house he 
called the bereft family to prayers, after which he sat 
down to eat bread with them and to discourse on the 
subhmity of the spirit world. * This,' he said, * we 
were prone to put at a vast distance from us. Hence 
our predilection for the tomb. But do we not err in 
this ^ If our eyes were opened as the eyes of the 
servant of Elisha, would we not see hosts of beau- 



622 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

teous forms, and among them him who used to fill 
the seat now occupied bj me ? And should he address 
us, would he not ask, ' What manner of communi- 
cations are these ye make one to another, as ye sup 
together, and are sad ?' Forget not how joyfully 1 
took my leave, assured of my reception into the ever- 
lasting habitations. Think not of my tomb, but of 
my interest in the ' house not made with hands.' " 

While he discoursed, I saw the countenance of our 
widowed sister lighted up with a smile, and with tears 
she said : *' Brother Asbury, henceforth when I visit 
his tomb, I will no longer view it as situated in the 
region and shadow of death, but in the suburbs of 
those everlasting habitations into which my happy 
William, my sainted husband, has been received ; and 
shall I grieve, since he is happy ?" 

Invited to pass the night near the spot where one 
of his friends was buried, he says : *' Within sight of 
this beautiful mansion lies the precious dust of Mary 
Tifiin. It was as much as I could do to forbear 
weeping over her speaking grave. How mutely elo- 
quent ! Ah, the world knows little of my sorrows — 
little knows how dear to me are my many friends, and 
how deeply I feel their lo^s." 

Of his faithful friend and co-laborer, Henry Willis, 
he writes : ** A tiresome ride brought us to our home 
at the widow Willis'. From the door, I saw the 
tomb of dear Henry Willis* Rest, man of God ! 
Thy quiet dust is not called to the labor of riding ^yq 
thousand miles in eight months, to meet ten Con- 
ferences in a line of sessions from the District of 
Maine to the banks of the Cayuga — to the States of 



IN VIRGINIA. 623 

OWo, of Tennessee, of Mississippi — to Cape Fear, 
James Eiver, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and to the 
completion of the round. Thou wilt not plan and 
labor the arrangement of the stations of seven hun- 
dred preachers ; thou wilt not attend Camp meetings, 
and take a daily part in the general ministration of 
the word; and often consume the hours which ought 
to be devoted to sleep in writing letters upon letter^. 
Lord, be with us, and help us to fulfil the task thou 
hast given us to perform." 

Having preached in the neighborhood whence that 
eminent physician and devoted saint, Dr. Hinde, went 
to his rest, he says : '* Once more I see Dr. Hinde 
from the other side of the flood, rejoicing in Jesus ; 
he will never again, I presume, put a blister on his 
wife's head to draw Methodism out of her heart ; 
this mad prank brought deep conviction, by the ope- 
ration of the spirit of God, upon his soul. His chil- 
dren, some of them, already rejoice with him, having 
the same joy, faith, and hope." 

The filial affection of Asbury is a beautiful trait in 
his character. As long as his parents lived, he reg- 
ularly sent them a remittance from his scanty means. 
On making one of these annual offerings, he says : 
* * Were it ten thousand per year, if I had it in my 
possession, you should be welcome, if you had need 
of it." On hearing of the extreme illness of his 
father, he wrote to his mother : ** From the informa- 
tion I have received, T fear my venerable father is no 
more an inhabitant of this earth. You are a widow 
and I am an orphan, with respect to my father. I 
cannot tell how to advise you in this important change. 



624 MfiMORtALS OF METHODISM 

You have made yourself respectable and extetisil^^ 
friends, who, though they cannot give to you, can com- 
fort you. I have been, as you have heard, afflicted 
by excessive labors of mind and body. I had to 
neglect writing, reading, and preaching for a time. 
I had to stop and lie by in some precious families, 
where parents and children, in some measure, sup- 
plied your absence. I lay by in Virginia. 'When 
you hear the name, you will love it unseen, for you 
will say, that is the place where my Frank was sick.' 
I am now much mended. I move in a little cari;iage, 
being unable to ride on horseback. Were you to see 
me, and the color of my hair — nearly that of your 
own ! My eyes are weak even with glasses. When 
I was a child, and would pry into the Bible by twink- 
ling firelight, you used to say, * Frank, you will spoil 
your eyes.' It is a grief to me that I cannot preach 
as heretofore. I am greatly worn out at fifty-five ; 
but it is a good cause. God is with me ; my soul 
exults in God." 

On receiving the sad news of his mother's death 
he inserts in his Journal the following tribute to her 
memory: "For fifty years her hands, her house, her 
heart, were open to receive the people of God and 
the ministers of Christ ; and thus a lamp was lighted 
up in a dark place, called Great Barre in Great 
Britain . She was an afflicted, yet most active woman ; 
of quick bodily powers, and masculine understanding ; 
nevertheless, ' so kindly all the elements were mixed 
in her,' that her strong mind quickly felt the subdu- 
ing influences of that Christian sympathy which 
* weeps with those who weep,' and 'rejoices with those 



IN TIROINIA. 625 

who do rejoice. ' As a woman and a wife, slie was chaste, 
modest, blameless ; as a mother, (above all the women 
in the world would, I claim her for my own), ar- 
dently affectionate ; as a ' mother in Israel, few of 
lier sex have done more by a holy walk to live, and 
by personal labor to support tbe gospel, and wash the 
saints feet ; as a friend, she was generous, tTue, and 
constant. 

** Elizabeth Asbury died January 6th, 1802, aged 
eighty-seven or eighty-eight years. There is now, 
after fifty years, a chapel within two or three hundred 
yards of her dwelling. I am now drawn out in thank- 
fulness to God, who has saved a mother of mine, and, 
I trust, a father also, who are now already in glory, 
where I hope to meet them both, after time, and care, 
and sorrow shall have ceased with me ; and where 
glory shall not only beam, but open on my soul for- 
ever." 

It would be a pleasing task to record the passage of 
such a man, through a serene old age, to the land and 
companionship of the saints, without a cloud over his 
pathway, or a sorrow in his heart. In his personal 
experience as a Christian, he did pass downward to 
the tomb peaceful, hopeful, happy ; but as a high 
officer of the Church of God, he was disturbed and 
distressed by a threatened innovation upon the econ- 
omy of his beloved Methodism. 

We have already alluded to his uneasiness at the 
agitation of the "Presiding Elder question." 
From the General Conference of 1812, to the 
time of his death, he feared and freely spoke 
of this dangerous movement, which culminated 



626 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

in the rupture of 1828. To an intimate friend, 
he writes : " God hath founded Zion that the poor 
of his people may trust in her. While I admire 
the overruling hand of God in our General Confer- 
ence, I have seen deep designed policy, which I shall 
set myself to oppose. I do not wish a plan, in a great 
degree formed and executed hy myself fcr God, the 
purest system, and the purest administration (perhaps,) 
at this time on the face of the earth, altered or de- 
stroyed. We stand on Jesus, and in the rectitude of 
our hearts and indefatigable labors. God be merciful 
to us as sinners saved." Referring to a Conference 
which he had attended, he says : "The Conference 
went into electioneering, to me the most detestable 
thing in the Church." This was done, said one, to 
leave out the favorites of the Bishops. '' Why," he 
asks, ** should not the elections be as pure as the 
gospel we preach ? Why not equal each District, a. 
Presiding Elder and an Elder ? from the cities one, 
not three members? Rome! Constantinople! 
City Elders wish to be free, no Bishop, but nominal ; 
no Presiding Elders to oversee. * * * You Pre- 
siding Elders are set for justice, for order, for liberty- 
watch for God — the preachers will watch you. Four 
years hence, what ? Where may I be ? On earth, 
in Europe, in Heaven ! I trust the temple will be 
built though in troublous times." 

He trembled for the ark of Methodism, and bend- 
ing under the weight of years and the care of all the 
churches, he faithfully warned his sons in the gospel 
to keep all its precious things bright and unbroken 
amid the conflict of opinions. 



IN VIRGINIA. 627 

In every aspect of his character, Asbury seemed to 
have been selected by Providence as a leader among 
men. Without those educational advantages, sup- 
posed by some to be absolutely necessary to raise a 
man to the foremost place, he yet possessed a natural 
vigor of mind, a pov^er of reading human nature, a 
clearness of judgment, and a force of will, vv^hich mark- 
ed him out as one born to command ; and all these 
endowments, harmonized and controlled by the most 
profound religious convictions, and ever acting in the 
light of faith, formed the basis of a character as pure 
and as noble as the Church of God has been blessed 
with since the close of the Apostolic age. 

Measured by the schools, he would not be a called 
a learned man ; but he had precisely that kind of 
learning adapted to the sphere in which God placed 
him. He read the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures 
daily, if not with the critical skill of a Wesley or a 
Clarke, yet with a lively appreciation of the force and 
beauty of the original text. He w'as also acquainted 
with the Latin, and to his linguistic studies be added 
a thorough course of reading in Theology, Church 
History, and Polity, Civil History and General Lite- 
rature. He notes more than a hundred different 
works which he had read, and the notices in his 
Journal show that he was no superficial reader or 
thinker. His criticisms are always short, pointed and 
just ; and w^e have thought that if he had taken time, 
he might have given reviews that would have done no 
discredit to Sydney Smith's select circle. 

After reading Blair's sermons, he says : **Ifind 
some very beautiful things in these sermons ; they 



628 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

contaia good moral philosophy. His sermon on 
Gentleness is worthy the taste of Queen Charlotte, 
and if money were anything toward paying for know- 
ledge, I should think that sermon worth two hundred 
pounds sterling, which, some say, the Queen gave 
him." 

Saurin's sermons : ** Long, elaborate, learned, doc- 
trinal, practical, historical, and explanatory." Of 
Thomson's Seasons he says: **Ifinda little wheat 
and a great deal of chaff. I have read great authors, 
so called, and wondered where they found their finery 
of words and phrases. Much of this might be pil- 
fered from the * Seasons' without real injury to the 
merit of the work ; and doubtless it has been plucked 
by literary robbers." 

We may well wonder that he could accomplish so 
much in the acquisition of knowledge in the midst of 
his great and incessant labors. The secret of his suc- 
cess was in his rigid adherence to a systematic method. 
It is said that when not travelling, his custom was to 
rise at four o'clock every morning ; two hours were 
spent in prayer and meditation, two in reading and 
study, one in recreation and conversation. Ten, out 
of sixteen hours, were spent in reading the Hebrew 
Bible and other books, and in writing. When not 
at meeting or in the stationing room, he retired to his 
apartment at eight o'clock, and gave an hour to med- 
itation and prayer before going to rest. Such a 
course, pursued for half a century, made him a wise and 
learned man in the highest sense. And in addition 
to all this, he acquired large stores of the best prac- 
tical knowledge in his constant travels, and his free 



m VIRGINIA* 629 

intercourse with all classes of people. Like all the 
earlier preachers, he had gathered a vast number of 
anecdotes, with which, on proper occasions, he enli- 
vened conversation. 

In his judgment of men, and of their adaptation to 
the diversified work of Methodism, Asbury has never 
been excelled. 

**He was admirably qualified," says one who knew 
him well, **for the duties of the stationing room. 
"When the Conference of preachers would justify it, 
his discriminating judgment was peculiarly manifested 
in sending to a circuit two of different talents, calcu- 
lated to be useful to different temperaments and dis- 
positions. A son of thunder and a son of consolation 
were not unfrequently yoked together. Pursuing 
this course, he gave a powerful and perhaps lasting 
impulse to Methodism." One thing, among many 
others, he felt was essential to the success of the itin- 
erant plan, and that he kept steadily in view — **a 
circulation of preachers to avoid partiality and popu- 
larity." At one of the "Western Conferences two 
young men came up for admission on trial. They 
were recommended as *Wery learned young men ;" 
one was the son of a distinguished teacher, the other 
the son of a distinguished general. Asbury had no- 
ticed their manner and conversation previous to the 
presentation. "When the Presiding Elder announced 
their names, he gave them the highest praise, and 
declared they would be a great acquisition to the min- 
istry and the Church. They were admitted with 
great unanimity. During this time Asbury sat 
with his eyes nearly closed. When the vote was 



630 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

taken he seemed to wake up. *^ Yes, yes !" he ex- 
claimed, **ia all probability they both will disgrace 
you and themselves before the year is out." 

And so it turned out. **In six months one was 
riding the circuit with a loaded pistol and a dirk, 
threatening to shoot and stab the rowdies ; the other 
was guilty of a misdemeanor, and in less than nine 
months they were both out of the Church." 

As a preacher, he has been described by a contem- 
porary, himself a master in the pulpit. 

**Asbury, as a preacher, occupied the front rank 
among ministers. He was deep, spiritual, and ani- 
mated. He defended, illustrated, and enforced the 
doctrines of the gospel with great energy of thought 
and strength of expression. His grasp of thoughts 
being great, and his mind naturally systematic, his 
discourses were well arranged, and full of instruction. 
He had a singular art of comprising any leading doc- 
trine in all its bearings and consequences, within the 
compass of a few words. Hence, though his sermons 
were generally short, yet they contained a vast deal 
of matter. His voice was strong and manly, yet it 
was sweet and pleasing. His oratory was bold and 
dignified, but it was natural. It sometimes broke 
forth impetuously upon the immense multitudes that 
attended his ministry, and moved them as the trees of 
the forests are moved by a mighty wind." 

The personal appearance of Asbury was prepos- 
sessing. His height was about ^ve feet eight or ten 
inches ; his eyes were hazle, of a bluish cast, small 
and piercing ; his forehead was high and square, indi- 
eating superior intellectual faculties. His hair was 



IN VIRGINIA. 631 

originally brown ; lie had in his earlier years a fair, 
healthful, English complexion, and his face was 
striking and impressive. 

We may close this sketch with an estimate of his 
character from one who fully appreciates his worth. 

* ' Bishop Asbury was one of those very few men 
whom nature forms in no ordinary mould. His mind 
was stamped with a certain greatness and originality 
which lifted him far above the merely learned man, 
and fitted him to be great without science, and vene- 
rable without titles. His knowledge of men was pro- 
found and penetrating ; hence he looked into char- 
acter as one looks into a clear stream to discover the 
bottom ; yet he did not use this penetration to com- 
pass any unworthy purposes ; the policy of knowing 
men in order to make the most of them, was a little- 
ness to which he never stooped. He had only one 
end in view, and that was worthy the dignity of an 
angel ; from this nothing ever warped him aside. 
He seemed conscious that God had designed him for 
a great work, and nothing was wanting on his part to 
fulfil the intention of Providence. The niche was 
cut in the great temple of usefulness, and he stretched 
himself to fill it up in all its dimensions. To him 
the widest career of labor and duty presented no ob- 
stacle. Like a moral Csesar, he thought nothing done 
while anything remained to do. His penetrating eye 
measured the ground over which he intended to sow 
the seeds of eternal life, while his courageous and 
active mind cheerfully embraced all the difiiculties 
engrafted upon his labors. He worshipped no God 
of the name of Terminus, but stretched ' his line of 
53 



632 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

tMngs' far beyond the bounds of ordinary minds. 
An annual journey of six thousand miles through a 
wilderness, would have sunk a feebler mind into dis- 
pondency ; but nothing retarded his progress, or once 
moved him from the line of duty. He pursued the 
most difficult and laborious course, as most men do 
their pleasures ; and although for many years he was 
enfeebled by sickness, and worn with age and infirm- 
ity, two hundred thousand persons saw with aston- 
ishment the hoary veteran * still standing in his lot,' 
or * pressing his vast line' of duty with undiminished 
zeal. The Methodist connection in America gloried 
in having such a man to preside at their head, and 
few of the preachers ever spoke of his integrity, dili- 
gence and zeal, without imputing to themselves some 
worth in having him as their Bishop. 

'*To all that bore the appearance of polished and 
pleasing life, he was dead ; and both from habit and 
divine grace had acquired such a true greatness of 
mind, that he seemed to estimate nothing as excellent 
but what tended to the glory of God. Flattery, 6i 
which many great minds ar'e highly susceptible, found 
him fortified behind a double guard of humility, and 
opposition but served to awaken those energies of 
mind which rise with difficulties and surmount the 
greatest. He knew nothing about pleasing the flesh 
at the expense of duty ; flesh and blood were enemies 
with whom he never took counsel ; he took a high 
standing upon the rugged Alps of labor, and to all 
that lagged behind, he said, ' Come up hither.' He 
was a rigid enemy to ease ; hence the pleasures of 
study and the charms of recreation he alike sacrificed 



IN VIEGINIA. 633 

to the more sublime work of saving souls. His faith 
was a * constant evidence of things not seen,' for he 
lived as a man totally blind to all worldly attractions. 
It is true that his self-denial savored of austerity, and 
yet he could sympathize with another's weakness. 
* * * His was the solemnity of an Apostle ; it 
was so interwoven with his conduct that he could not 
put off the gravity of the Bishop either in the parlor 
or dining-room. Wisdom was not more distinct 
from folly than his conduct was from any thing akin 
to trifling. He had stated hours of retirement and 
prayer, upon which he let neither business nor com- 
pany break in. Prayer was the seasoning of all his 
avocations ; he never suffered the cloth to be removed 
from the table until he had kneeled down to address the 
Almighty ; it was the preface to all business, and often 
the link that connected opposite duties, and the con- 
clusion of whatever he took in hand. Divine wisdom 
seemed to direct all his undertakings, for he sought 
its counsels upon all occasions ; no part of his con- 
duct was the result of accident ; the plan by which 
he transacted all his affairs was as regular as the 
movements of a time-piece, hence he had no idle 
moments, no fragments of time broken and scattered 
up and down; no cause to say with Titus, *my 
friends, I have lost a day.' Pleading with God in 
secret, settling the various questions of the body over 
which he presided, or speaking * to men for their edi- 
fication' in the pulpit, occupied all his time. 

**As a preacher, although not an orator, he was 
dignified, eloquent, and impressive ; his sermons were 
the result of good sense and sound wisdom, delivered 



634 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

with great authority and gravity, and often attended 
with Divine unction, which made them as refreshing 
as the dew of heaven. One of the last subjects I 
heard him preach upon was union and brotherly love ; 
it was the greatest I ever heard upon that subject." 

The remains of Asbury were interred in the family 
burying ground of Mr. Arnold. They were after- 
ward removed to Baltimore, by order of the General 
Conference, and placed in a vault beneath the pulpit 
of Eutaw Street Church. Bishop McKendree deliv- 
ered a funeral discourse on the occasion to a vast 
concourse of people, and the dust of the first Amer- 
ican Protestant Bishop was left to its repose until the 
land and the sea shall give up their dead. 

A few months after the death of Ashury, one of 
his most eminent co-laborers descended to the grave. 
On the 12th of September, Jesse Lee ceased his long 
and useful life in full hope of immortality in heaven. 
From the Baltimore Conference of 1816, to which 
he had been transferred, he was sent to Annapolis, 
the capital of Maryland. Here he labored with his 
accustomed zeal and industry until the close of the 
Summer, when he attended a Camp Meeting near 
Hillsboro, on the Eastern Shore of the State. He 
entered into the spirit of the meeting, and preached 
with great unction and power. His last and most 
profitable sermon was from one of his favorite texts, 
** But grow in grace." The vast congregation was 
deeply aff'ected by the earnest appeals of the veteran 
preacher. This was his last public testimony. He 
was seized with a chill the same evening, and a fever 
followed, which never broke till cooled by the touch 



IN VIRGINIA. 635 

of death. He was removed the next day to the house 
of a Christian friend, Mr. Sellers, where every atten- 
tion was paid him by friends and physicians, but 
without avail. His Master had called him to come 
up higher. During the first part of his illness his 
mind seemed burdened, and he spoke but little. At 
length the burden was lifted, the clouds broke, and 
the ** Sun of Kighteousness" shone upon his soul. 
On the morning of Wednesday he exclaimed : 
'* Glory i glory ! glory ! Hallelujah ! Jesus reigns !" 
In the evening of the same day he spoke nearly 
twenty minutes, deliberately and distinctly. He sent 
messages to his kindred, assuring them that he died 
happy in the Lord. ** Give my respects to Bishop 
McKendree," he said, '' and tell him that I die in 
love with all the preachers ; that I love him, and that 
he lives in my heart." He then took leave of the 
company in the room, and desired them to engage in 
prayer. Afler this he spoke but little. The next 
day he lost his speech, but his mind was clear. Thus 
he lingered until seven in the evening, when he 
cahnly expired with his eye fixed on the crown of glory. 

** We have no doubt," said his brethren in their 
notice of his death, '* he has entered into rest — that 
he now partakes of that happiness to which he endea- 
vored to lead others ; and if we are faithful we may 
expect to hail him on that eternal shore, * where all 
is calm, and joy, and peace.' " 

His remains were deposited in the Methodist bury- 
ing ground in Baltimore, awaiting the summons that 
shall bring him and all the holy dead to receive the 
plaudit, '^Well done, good and faithful servants, 
enter ye into the joy of your Lord." 



636 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER Xy. 

General Conference of 1816 — The Presiding Elder and other ques- 
tions — Election of Bishops — Protest against Slavery — Confer- 
ence of 1817 — Report of Committee on Slavery — Movement on 
the subject of Education — Progress of the "Work — Revival 
Scenes — Conference of 1818 — Peter Doub — Hezekiah G. Leigh 
— George W. Charlton — New Church in Petersburg — Fletcher 
Harris — Increase of the Church in the Yalley — Thomas Ken- 
nerly — Power of Prayer — Conference of 1819 — Action on 
Slavery — "Walker Timberlake — "Work in Botetourt and adjacent 
Circuits — Samuel Kennerly — Camp Meeting Scenes— Confer- 
ence of 1820— Moses Brock — Philip Courtney — General Con- 
ference of 1820— Virginia Conference of 1821 — Thomas Crowder 
Revivals — Conference of 1822 — Address of Bishop McKendree 
on the Presiding Elder Question — Response of the Conference — 
General outpouring of the Spirit — Great Revival in Petersburg 
— Conference of 1823 — "William Hammit — Peyton Anderson, 

The second delegated General Conference assem- 
bled at Baltimore May 1st, 1816. For the first time 
since the organization of the Church, the venerable 
leader and honored father, Asbury, was not among his 
sons. He had gone to fill his seat among the Elders 
of the Church Triumphant. His absence cast a 
gloom over the Conference. In solemn silence they 
listened to the reading of his valedictory address. 
His spirit seemed to hover over them, whispering 
those words of cheering which had so often fallen 
from his lips while he went in and out among them. 
One of their first acts was to make the necessary 



IN VIRGINIA. 637 

preparations for the removal of his hody to its place 
of final sepulture. 

In glancing at the proceedings of this Conference, 
we notice a new naming of the committees raised for 
preparing and bringing forward business. Besides 
the usual committees on the Episcopacy, and the Book 
Concern, there was a ''Committee of Ways and 
Means," whose special duty it was "to take into con- 
sideration the necessary . arrangements for the more 
ample support of the ministry, to prevent locations, 
and the admission of improper persons into the trav- 
elling connexion;" — there was also a ** Committee of 
Safety," who were charged with the duty of inquiring 
<* whether our doctrines have been maintained, dis- 
cipline faithfully and impartially enforced, and the 
stations and circuits duly attended," — "the Committee 
of the Temporal Economy" settled all matters rela- 
ting to the establishment of new Conferences, fixing 
their boundaries, &c. 

The ^'Committee of Ways and Means" recom- 
mended to the Conference that the annual allowance 
of the preachers, and that of their wives and widows 
be one hundred dollars. They also recommended the 
buying or renting of parsonages for the use of the 
preachers, and the appointment of circuit and district 
committees to estimate the family expenses of the 
Preachers and Presiding Elders. They further ad- 
vised the taking up of an annual collection in behalf 
of ''the distressed, travelling, superannuated, and 
supernumerary preachers, their vsT.ves, widows, and 
children" — this is now known as the "Conference col- 
lection." The Bishops w^ere requested to " point out 



638 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

a course of study and readiDg proper to be pursued 
by candidates for the ministry." The adoption of 
this report had a happy influence on the ministry and 
laity by raising the spirit of hberality in the one, and 
stimulating the other to seek higher ministerial qual- 
ifications. 

The " Committee of Safety" recommended the 
most careful inquiries, on the part of the Bishops, in 
order to ascertain whether any doctrines were em- 
braced or preached in the Church contrary to our 
Articles of Faith, and the exercise of their influence 
to correct such abuses. The Presiding Elders and 
Preachers on stations and circuits, were charged with 
the duty of securing all Church property on the prin- 
ciples of our deed of settlement. The building of 
pewed churches was declared to be ** contrary to the 
rules of our economy, and inconsistent with the 
interests of our societies." **The practice of assess- 
ing and collecting taxes by civil law for the support of 
the ministers of the gospel," which seems to have 
prevailed to some extent, was pronounced '* contrary 
to the temporal economy of our Church, and incon- 
sistent with Apostolic example," and the Bishops 
were requested to take such measures as would effec- 
tually cure this evil. The Bishops, Presiding Elders, 
and Preachers, were all " earnestly requested to carry 
into eflect, in their several charges, our rules on 
dress, family luorship, love-feasts, class, and society 
meetings." 

This report was not incorporated in the Discipline, 
but it was ordered '^ that a copy be recorded on the 
Journal of each Annual Conference." 



IN VIRGINIA. 639 

Several memorials were presented to this Confer- 
ence from local preachers praying an enlargement of 
their privileges. 1. To have a representation in the 
councils of the Church. 2. Be permitted to share in 
the administration of Discipline. 3. To stipulate with 
the people, who might wish for their services, for a 
certain amount of salary. To these requests the Con- 
ference, through its Committee, replied, **that the 
first request is inconsistent with the Constitution of 
the General Conference ; that the second is inexpe- 
dient ; that as to the third, provision is already made 
for the relief of local preachers m certain cases." 
The Conference felt happy in saying ** that the great 
body of local preachers were, in their judgment, the 
firm friends and supporters of our doctrines, discip- 
line, and Church government ; and that by far the 
greater part of them would be much grieved at any 
radical changes in our present regulations." The 
whole question was dismissed after a few amendments 
to those portions of the Discipline having reference 
to local preachers. But this memorial was the first 
utterance of a voice that afterwards rose to imperious 
tones in demanding a radical change in the Constitu- 
tion of the Church. 

"With the exception of the election of Enoch 
George and Eobert RichfoTd Roberts, to the Episco- 
pacy, these were the most important acts of this 
General Conference. 

The action on slavery was of little consequence. 
The Committee made a subdued report, which was 
adopted by the Conference. After mature delibera- 
tion, they were of opinion '*that under the present 



640 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

existing circumstances in relation to slavery, little 
can be done to abolish a practice so contrary to the 
principles of moral justice." The evil appeared to 
them to be past remedy, and they were led to fear 
that some of the members were too easily contented 
with laws unfriendly to the freedom of the slaves in 
the South and West — to bring about such a change 
in the civil code as would favor the cause of liberty, 
they admitted was not within the power of the Gen- 
eral Conference. Many of the Annual Conferences 
had made no efficient rules on the subject, and the 
people were left to act as they pleased. Others had 
adopted regulations widely variant in principle and 
application, and all plead the authority of the General 
Conference of 1812, giving to each Annual Confer- 
ence the right to form its own regulations relative to 
buying and selling slaves. To give conformity to 
Church action, they made their protest to read : 
** Therefore no slaveholder shall be eligible to any 
official station in our Church hereafter, where the 
laws of the State, in which he lives, will admit of 
emancipation, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy 
freedom." 

That old ''bone of contention," the Presidinoc 
Elder question, was again dragged into this Confer- 
ence. It had many strong friends, was debated with 
ability and zeal for several days in *' Committee of 
the "Whole," and was finally lost by a vote of forty- 
two in favor and sixty against it. The report of 
the Committee then came up before the Conference, 
when, after further debate, the vote was called for and 
a motion made to divide the question. Bishop Mc- 



IN VIRGINIA. 641 

Kendree ruled the motion out of order. This decision 
was appealed from, but was sustained by the Confer- 
ence. The vote was then taken on the first part ot 
the main question and lost — thirty-eight in favor, 
sixty-three against it. And so the subject received 
its quietus for another four years. 

The Virginia Conference for 1817 met at Peters- 
burg on the 6 th of February. Bishops McKendree 
and George were present. Six were received on 
trial ; two w^ere readmitted ; nine were elected to 
Deacon's orders ; seven were ordained Elders ; two 
were discontinued ; eight located ; two had died ; 
twelve local preachers were ordained to Deacon's, 
and four to Elder's orders. 

The numbers in Society were reported at 18,883 
whites, 5,936 colored ; the increase was small, 151 
whites and 315 blacks. 

There is no mention of deficiencies, collections, or 
receipts from the Chartered Fund or Book Concern. 
The number of circuits was 41 ; 64 preachers were 
appointed. 

The Committee on slavery, appointed at the pre- 
vious Conference, made the following report : *' That 
the members of our Church shall not buy or sell any 
slave where it does not appear to the preacher having 
charge, and the Society, or a Committee appointed 
by him, that they are bought or sold for the express 
purpose of keeping husbands and wives, parents and 
children together, or from principles of humanity. 
And in every case of violation of the above rule, such 
persons so offending, shall be dealt with according to 
Discipline, as in other cases of immorality. 



642 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

** Resolved, by this Conference, that every Presi- 
ding Elder, and assistant preacher, be furnished with 
a copy of the above rule, and that each assistant 
preacher read it in conjunctioii with the Oeneral Rules 
of our Church." 

"We find in the records for this year the following : 
** A motion was made by C. H. Hines, and seconded, 
that a committee be appointed to examine and report 
on certain communications sent to this Conference 
relative to the education of youth and young minis- 
ters." The Conference decided, by a vote, that the 
Presiding Elders present should compose the com- 
mittee to examine and report thereon. They were 
C. H. Hines, Jno. T. Weaver, Edward Cannon, 
Thomas Barge, and Ethelbert Drake. All we know 
of the action of the Conference on this subject is, 
that **the committee appointed to take into conside- 
ration the propriety and necessity of establishing a 
Seminary of learning within the bounds of the Vir- 
ginia Conference reported, and a motion was made 
for concurrence, and after some debate the vote was 
taken and the motion was lost." This is the earliest 
movement on record of Conference action on the 
subject of education. It is to be regretted that this 
memorial has been lost, inasmuch as it prevents us 
from tracing the progress of this movement from its 
incipiency to its completion. 

The Conference was called to mourn the loss of 
two good men. Samuel Waggoner, a native of 
Stokes county, N'orth Carolina, had been a faithful 
laborer for five years; * * He was constant as a friend ; 
as a minister he was zealous, and frequently labored 



IN VIRGINIA. 643 

hard." He sank under consumption ; and at his 
father's house, surrounded by weeping friends, he 
died in full assurance of faith. 

Peter "Wyatt was born in Gloucester county, and 
had been four years in the work. Three years he 
preached with success, and in the midst of the fourth 
was stricken down by a lingering disease. But he 
murmured not against the Providence of God. The 
day before he died he fell into a swoon ; his friends 
thought him gone ; bat reviving, after a while, and 
seeing them weeping around him, he exclaimed, 
** Weep not for me." He then spoke of the joys of 
the saints, and the miseries of the wicked in the most 
impressive manner ; then laying his hands upon his 
breast he died without a struggle. Truly religion 
gathers her brightest proofs from the death-beds of 
her votaries. **Oar people die well," is one of the 
most blessed utterances of Methodism. 

The progress of the Church in Virginia was this 
this year marked, in some localities, by powerful revi- 
vals ; but their memorials are unwritten, and linger 
only in the memories of aged Christians. The printed 
records present a barren field to the historic gleaner. 
In the lower part of the Valley there were uncommon 
displays of divine mercy and power. At Stephens- 
burg, in Frederick county, the small society was gra- 
ciously visited by the Holy Spirit, and more than a 
hundred were converted. 

The Church at Winchester had fallen into a luke- 
warm state ; but at a quarterly meeting the Lord 
came to His temple, and a hundred happy souls 
attested the power of His grace to save from sin. At 



644 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

a Camp Meeting near Charlestown, Jefferson county, 
a great number received the word of life, and the 
Christians rejoiced in a fresh baptism from heaven. 
As usual, on such occasions, the sons of Belial came 
up with the people of the Lord. An incident related 
by an eye-witness will show that the preachers, in 
dealing with these ^^rude fellows of the baser sort," 
had sometimes to go beyond the gravity and decorum 
suitable to such occasions. At this meeting a godless 
fellow assumed the character of a penitent for the 
amusement of his wicked comrades. He threw him- 
self in the way of the preacher in charge of the cir- 
cuit, and was recognized by him as one who had 
already greatly annoyed the meeting. The preacher 
spoke to him as if he thought him penitent ; the young 
man assured him that he was deeply concerned for 
his soul, and proposed to go into the altar ; but the 
preacher told him to kneel where he stood, and 
dropped on his knees holding fast the young sinner. 
He began his prayer by telling the Lord who the man 
was, giving his name, and then recounting his wicked 
acts — "he had cut the tents, thrown a fire-brand 
among the mourners, climbed the trees, crowed like 
a cock, aped the rain frogs" — and done numerous 
other pranks of a like kind. By the time this descrip- 
tion of his character was completed he had slipped 
away, and was not seen again during the meeting. 
Four or five of the boldest still lingered about the 
altar, declaring that the whole was a mere farce, one 
of them telling his companions that he could act his 
part as well as any of the pretended penitents. So 
saying, he entered the altar and fell on his knees ; 



IN VIRGINIA. 645 

instantly he began to tremble, and weep, and pray. 
His comrades were highly amused, and declared that 
he acted his part to the life ; but soon they saw that 
he was in earnest, and could not suppress his tears 
and cries. One of them proposed to go in and bring 
him out; he entered, and just as he laid his hand 
upon him he was smitten by the Spirit and fell by the 
side of his friend, crying aloud for mercy ; a third 
now ran to the rescue, but no sooner had he touched 
them, than he, too, fell prostrate, and joined the cry 
for pardon. The remaining two fled from the place, 
and the three penitents were soon happily converted. 

The Conference for 1818 assembled at Norfolk on 
the 26th of February. Bishops McKendree, George, 
and Roberts, were present. Fourteen young men 
were admitted on trial ; two were readmitted ; two 
were discontinued ; ten elected to Deacon's, seven to 
Elder's orders ; eleven located ; one "was returned su- 
pernumerary, and one superannuated ; seven local 
preachers were ordained Deacons, and seven to the 
Eldership. The membership amounted to 18,137 
w^hites ; 5,547 colored ; there was a sad decrease of 
746 whites, and 479 blacks. The circuit collections 
are not reported ; the Conference drew $130 from the 
Chartered Fund, and |200 from the Book Concern. 
We find the following in the Minutes : 

Resolved, That the members of this Conference 
will use their exertions in promoting the interests of 
the Asbury Mite Society of Forfolk. 

'' Eesolved, That the Directors of said Society be 
requested to communicate annually to this Conference, 
the state of the Society. " 



646 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM ! 

This seems to have been the only Society that flour- j 
ished in Virginia on the plan proposed by Asbnry. i 
It was no doubt similar to the Wesleyan penny-a- j 
week system. ; 

The circuits nnmbered 39, supplied by 64 preachers. | 
Three names appear in the appointments of this ; 
Conference that have filled a large space in the history ; 
of Methodism in Virginia and North Carolina. Peter : 
Doub, Hezekiah G. Leigh, and George W. Charlton, ' 
this year began their course as Methodist preachers. ; 
Two have gone to their reward, one still survives.* >. 
The first named rose more slowly than his compeers, i 
but not less steadily, to the position of a master work- i 
man in the Church, Leigh and Charlton rapidly ' 
ascended to the heights of pulpit eloquence. Leigh ; 
had the form, the face, the eye, the voice of an orator. ; 
At the first glance you would say, 'he is a man of ; 
power.' Like all men of rare eloquence, he had strong j 
passions, but these,, controlled by grace, were an irre- \ 
sistible motive power in his sermons ; they fused the : 
masses of thought, and rolled them upon the soul till j 
all its powers felt and responded to the burning touch. | 
He could argue with force, but his peculiar power lay ; 
in description. No man in his day could excel him ! 
in word-painting. He could dash off a picture by a ; 
few bold strokes, so deep in coloring and so vivid in \ 
outline, that his hearers were startled as if by an ap- j 
parition ; or he could slowly fill up the canvass of ] 
thought by successive touches till the^whole scene was j 
fixed in the mind never to be erased. In beginning | 
his sermons he was collected and calm, his words '. 

*EeT. C. Doub has died since this was vaitten. ' 



m YIRGINIA. 647 

were well chosen, his sentences round and full, his 
voice deep and mellow ; as his mind moved or through 
the field of thought, gathering at every s 'p argu- 
ments and illustrations, a change passed over him. 
The fiush on his face deepened, his form seemed to 
expand, his eye kindl-ed till it blazed, his voice swelled 
out in clearer, stronger tones, like a bugle calling to 
the charge, his words came in torrents, with that 
slight, but peculiar nasal sound, noticed by all who 
ever heard him, as if the channels of breath must be 
opened wider to give path to the mighty thoughts 
that struggled for release. 

Some men are called eloquent because they have a 
brilliant fancy ; but Leigh had the higher gift of ima- 
gination. His colorings were not from the artificial 
boquet ; they were from the gorgeous, mingled 
splendors in the train of the setting sun. He dealt 
not in little foam-capped waves of thought ; his were 
deep-sea billows, swelling and rising as they rolled ; 
the stream by which he pictured the waters of salva- 
tion, was not the brook, singing along over its pebbly 
bed, amid fresh grasses and fragrant blooms, but the 
deep, wide, majestic river, bearing its freights of 
priceless value. 

Perhaps no man ever left a deeper impression on 
the hearts of the people among whom he labored. In 
every city where he was stationed, in every district, 
in every circuit, there are thrilling recollections ol 
his preaching. The present writer will never forget 
a sermon which he heard from him more than twenty 
years ago. He was then advanced in life, and had 
lost somewhat of the force and fire of his earlier 



648 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM - 

years, but lie was still great, and tlffe sermon was a 
masterpiece in thought and language. It was at a 
Camp Meeting, one of those grand assemblies, which, 
beyond all others of any kind on this continent, have 
witnessed the highest efforts and the greatest triumphs 
of human eloquence. He arrived on the ground a 
day or two after the meeting had beguu, and was of 
course invited to preach at an important hour. His 
preparation was made as he sat in the preacher's tent, 
with a large Bible open before him, on his knees. 
Seemingly unconscious of the numbers passing in and 
out, and of the conversation going on around him, he 
selected his text and arranged his thoughts. His 
subject was from the parable of the Eich Fool. The 
words read as a text were : ** So is every one that 
layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward 
God." 

Those who have heard him will readily perceive 
that he at once entered a field of thought peculiarly 
adapted to his mind. He boldly explored it, and 
brought forth all its treasures. The whole of the dis- 
course was superior ; but the close, in which he de- 
picted the fatal influence of such a character as the 
text portrayed during his life and after his death, was 
indeed grand. He closed with a scene in which the 
rich fool, riding on the crest of a burning wave, looks 
upward and discovers his deluded victims descending 
to share his woe and upbraid him with their ruin. 
His wail, as they '* splashed down" beside him in the 
fiery flood, seemed to sound out over the awestruck 
multitude, and, *^ So is every one that layeth up trea- 



IN VIRGINIA. 649 

sure for himself, and is not rich toward God," was 
heard as from the very depths of hell. 

He was not simply an eloquent preacher ; he was 
a wise, skilful, practical workman in the vineyard. 
He filled for years, with great acceptance, the respon- 
sible office of Presiding Elder ; he was among the 
first to perceive the necessity for a higher standard of 
education among people and preachers, and he was 
one of the founders, and to the close of his life the 
ardent patron, of Kandolph Macon College. He was 
the first Agent for that Institution appointed by the 
Conference, and for four years he labored for its en- 
dowment with signal success. His appeals were 
almost irresistible. On one occasion, having preached 
w4th great power at a Camp Meeting, and closed with 
an appeal for the College, a wealthy, but wicked man, 
who had heard him, said to a friend who proposed to 
introduce him to the preacher, *' Ko, sir ; I don't wish 
to come any nearer to that man." Leigh afterward 
met with him, was introduced, and after a brief conver- 
sation the gentleman handed him one hundred dollars 
for the College. After a life of great usefulness to 
the Church, he was called to his place among the 
Elders near the throne. 

His contemporary, George W. Charleton,* was in 
the day of his manhood's prime, a preacher of unu- 
sual eloquence and power. He was eminently suc- 
cessful in winning souls to Christ. Like a veteran 
warrior, he enjoys the quiet of his home, and enter- 
tains his friends with the pleasing reminiscences of 

• *Mr, Charlton has since entered eternal rest. 



650 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

those years, when, in the vigor of his health and the 
plenitude of pulpit power, he gathered rich trophies 
to the cause of God on every lield of conflict. May 
the hght of grace gild the clouds that overhang the 
descending path of life. 

The records of Church progress for this year are 
extremely meager. In Petersburg there was encour- 
aging signs of improvement under the ministry of 
Fletcher Harris, a young preacher of much promise. 
He was amiable, dignified, of more than ordinary 
piety, eloquent and convincing in the pulpit; as a 
pastor, he was humble, faithful, and diUgent. These 
qualities greatly endeared him to the Church and the 
community. The old house of worship became too 
small to hold the crowds that flocked to hear him. 
A proposition for the erection of a new church met 
with general favor. The old one was sold, liberal 
contributions were made, a lot -svas bought on Union 
Street, and before the middle of the year the founda- 
tion of a .new building was laid. While this house 
w^as being built, the Methodists worshipped in the 
Episcopal Church, which was tendered by the Eector, 
a man of enlarged views and liberal feelings towards 
other Christians. Harris continued to draw large and 
delighted congregations ; but alas ! in the midst of 
his usefulness he was stricken down by a fatal illness. 
The light of grace shone as brightly in the sick room 
as it had in the pulpit. Singing and prayer were de- 
lightful exercises to the dying pastor, A few days 
before he died, sitting in his bed, he repeated and 
eloquently enlarged upon the words, " Receive us, we 
have wronged no man," until all who were present 



IN VIRGINIA. 651 

wept together about his bed. To his brethren in the 
ministry his message was, " Tell the preachers, at 
Conference, that I died in the triumphs of faith ; that 
my last doctrine is, Free Salvation^'' A friend stand- 
ing by, said, '* Brother Harris, this is not dying." 
"iTo," he replied, '* it is living forever !" He men- 
tioned by name his aged parents, brothers and sisters, 
and sent them his affectionate and last farewell. 
When very near his end, his brother, wishing to hear 
the sound of his voice once more, said, ''Brother 
Fletcher, you are going to leave lis." * ' Presently, " he 
replied faintly, and in a few moments passed the flood 
and entered the gates of the golden city. He was a 
native of Korth Carolina, and had been in the work 
five years. He being dead, yet speaketh. 

The Valley, where Methodism has gathered richly 
since its introduction, was this year the scene of glo- 
rious revivals. On Winchester circuit, ucder the 
the labors of Thomas Kennerly, an honored name in 
the Church, more than eight hundred souls were 
during this and the past year brought to God. 

An instance of the power of prayer is related as 
having occurred under the ministry of this excellent 
man, which is worthy of record. On one of his cir- 
cuits he made the acquaintance of a lady who had 
been for years a happy and useful Christian ; but at 
that time she was in a state of almost utter despair, 
the combined result of disease and temptation. She 
could hardly be persuaded to attend preaching, though 
her house was one of the regular appointments. One 
day in ciass-meeting, after hearing from her own lips 
a recital of her sad case, he proposed to pray specially 



652 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

for her restoration. At the close of an earnest appeal 
she sprang up, exclaiming, ** I am free, I am tree ! 
Thanks be to God, I am happy in his love once 
more !" From that moment she began to improve, 
nntil she was fully restored to health ; and she con- 
tinued happy in religion until the close of her life. 

Another incident in his life will show how the Lord 
directs his servants to scenes of usefulness. He had 
travelled month after month on a rough circuit in the 
"Western part of the State, without being cheered by 
a single sign of revival. At the close of one of his 
toilsome rounds, he sat down discouraged, and began 
to reflect on his future course. In the midst of his 
reflections, he felt a sudden impulse to visit a village 
to which he was an utter stranger, many miles dis- 
tant from his circuit. He mounted his horse, reached 
the place after a long ride, and put up at the hotel. 
Inquiring for the prominent citizens, he was directed 
to a magistrate, who kindly granted him the Court- 
house as a preaching place, and gave him his favor 
and protection. Here he began to preach without a 
solitary member of the Church to encourage or pray 
for him. His word came with power, a great revival 
broke out, many of the leading inhabitants we're con- 
verted, a church was soon organized, and Methodism 
firmly planted. 

The Conference of 1819 met at Oxford, North Car- 
alina, on the 10th of February. Bishop Eoberts pre- 
sided ; seven were admitted on trial ; one readmitted ; 
two discontinued ; six located ; one had died ; two 
were returned ; supernumerary, and two *superan- 
nuated ; three Deacons and nine Elders were ordained ; 



IN VIRGINIA. ■ 653 



six local preachers elected to Deacon's, and seven to 
Elder's orders. The receipts of money were, from 
the Book Concern, $300 ; from the Chartered Fund, 
fl80; no record of oollections from the circuits. 
The aggregate membership was reported at 17,234 
whites, and 5,351 colored ; of these 8,465 whites, 
and 2,950 colored were in Forth Carolina ; in Vir- 
ginia, 8,769 whites, and 2,401 blacks. As compared 
with the returns of the preceding year, there was a 
heavy loss of nearly 1,100 members. The entire 
memberships in the State, as shown by the returns of 
Conferences having circuits therein, was 20,544 
whites, and 4,826 colored. The circuits reported 
were, 18 in North Carolina, and 20 in Virginia ; the 
former supplied by 29, the latter by 35 preachers. 
The whole number of circuits in Virginia was 46, 
the preachers sent to them from the different Con- 
ferences numbered 78. The following passed at this 
session ; 

*' Resolved, That the rule on slavery, adopted by 
this Conference in the year 1817, be abolished ; and 
that the rule adopted in 1813, in the following words 
be substituted in its place : ' If any member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church be found guilty of car- 
rying on, directly or indirectly, the trade of slave 
speculation, he or she shall be expelled the Church.'" 

After considerable discussion the vote was taken 
and the motion was lost. So the rule of 1817 re- 
mained in force. 

Among the local preachers ordained Deacons at 
this conference appears the name of Walker Timber- 
lake. But few more efficient and useful local preachers 



654 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

have ever been raised up in Virginia. He was con- 
verted in 1811 at a Camp Meeting in Albemarle 
county, and fully gave himself to the work of God. 
In 1815 he was licensed as a preacher, and from that 
time to the present has labored with undiminished 
zeal. His mind is clear, strong, and eminently 
practical. Methodism, as ** Christianity in earnest," 
is exactly adapted to his views and feelings. Her 
economy, government and doctrines, he thoroughly 
understands, and preaches them by precept and the 
most rigid example. He is wise in counsel, sagacious 
and active in business, deeply experimented in reli- 
gion, forcible and pathetic in preaching, and one of 
those rare friends who will as kindly tell you of your 
faults as he will generously commend your virtues. 
"Within the sphere of his labors, no man has been 
more successful in planting, nourishing, and defend- 
ing Methodism ; and yet he is free from bigotry, say- 
ing to every true follower of Christ, *^if thy heart 
be as my heart, give me thy hand." 

A contemporary^ of Asbury, McKendree, Lee, 
Douglass, and others of the fathers, his memory 
abounds in the most interesting reminiscences of the 
times when these great lights moved and shone among 
the churches. Calmly he awaits the hour, when he, 
too, shall cross the flood and rejoin them in the land 
of rest. Ma}^ the weight of years press lightly upon 
him, and the friend and counsellor of so many, among 
whom the writer feels it an honor to be numbered, 
have the sweetest counsel and comfort from the 
** Friend that sticketh closer than a brother."* 

♦Since this was written he has entered into rest. 



IN VIRGINIA. 655 

** Times of refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord" came to many of the churches this year, and 
the ingathering of souls in some quarters was great. 
Through the courtesy of Rev. Samuel Kennerly, we 
are enahled to present an interesting sketch of the 
work in Botetourt and the adjacent circuits. 

**I was the first preacher," says Mr. Kennerly, 
**that ever got an appointment at Christiansburg, 
Montgomery county. It was a very dissolute place, 
with but one solitary Methodist. I preached in the 
Court-house, and had, generally, good attendance and 
order, with the exception of a disposition in many to 
walk about with their hats on, smoke cigars, and 
eat fruit in time of service, giving a true picture of 
backwoods life, and freedom of action." The seed 
sown here took root and yielded fruit. During the 
Summer at a quarterly meeting in Fincastle, the work 
broke out with unusual power. *' On Sabbath, under 
a sermon from the Presiding Elder, L. E. Fechtig, 
the power of the Almighty fell on the congregation 
suddenly. Many fell in every part of the house and 
cried for mercy, while others shouted in triumph. 
Many persons pulled their relatives and friends out of 
the house, but they could not flee from the presence 
of God. Out of doors, turn whither they would, 
they saw and heard proof of His power to convict 
and convert, for this hallowed influence seemed to 
pervade the town. A gay young lady, passing from 
the house to the kitchen, at a distance of several hun- 
dred yards from the Church, fell prostrate on the 
ground and was unable to rise. She screamed for 
mercy as though she felt like David, when he said, 



656 MEMORIALS OV METHODISM 

* the powers of hell gat hold upon me.' She wa3 
carried into the house and a physician called, the fam- 
ily heing ignorant of the cause of her distress. But 
she felt that she had more need of a spiritual than a 
medical adviser, and begged her mother to send for 
a Methodist minister. Both were sent for. The 
doctor pronounced her beyond^ his skill, and gave up 
the case to the preacher. She was soon converted, 
and lived and died a happy Christian. 

** A young man in his stable was suddenly seized 
with conviction, and ran through the streets crying 
for mercy in the bitterest agony. But few persons in 
the place were unconcerned, and for a week business 
was almost wholly suspended, the care of the soul 
being the chief concern. The Society and Congre- 
gation were so much increased by this revival that 
we were compelled to build a large house of worship. 

** In the town of Salem, one of our Sabbath ap- 
pointments, lived a Brother Acton, pious and hospi- 
table. His house was my home when in the place, 
but in the course of the year he moved away, and I 
was compelled to put up at a public house for want ot 
an invitation elsewhere. "When I preached my last 
sermon, and had made the appointments for ray suc- 
cessor, I took the occasion to tell the congregation 
that T had preached for them a year to the best of my 
ability, was now about to leave them, and perhaps 
should see them no more on earth ; but I hoped they 
would not treat my successor as they had treated me, 
for neither man nor woman had invited me into a 
house nor offered me a night's lodging nor a meals' 



IN VIRGINIA. 657 

victuals ; t"hat I had darkened no man's door, unless 
to see the sick ; that if they would become better 
acquainted with the Methodist preachers, they would 
find them intelligent, sociable and clever men, and as 
good friends as they had on earth. The preachers for 
years afterward, as they informed me, found no want 
of hospitality in the town, and the reproof that I gave 
them was often spoken of. Methodism has flourished 
through all that country." 

At a Camp Meeting near Blacksburg, there was a 
gracious outpouring of the Spirit. An incident con- 
nected with this meeting is related by the same writer. 

*^ General Preston, Ex-Governor of Virginia, and 
family, were in attendance every day. They had a 
large tent in which they entertained their friends, but 
returned home at night. The old General was much 
pleased with the exercises. A few days after the close 
of the meeting he was visited by his brother-in-law, 
Dr. Floyd, who was known to be deistical in his sen- 
timents. In conversation they talked of the recent 
Camp Meeting, the Methodist preachers, &c. The 
Doctor remarked that there was one fact that he had 
never been able to account for, and that was that while 
the ministers of some other churches had greatly the 
advantage of the Methodist ministers in point of edu- 
cation, the latter were so far their superiors in clear- 
ness of position, force of argument, and power of 
eloquence. ' Why, Doctor,' said the General, ^ do 
you not understand the secret r' *No,' replied he, 
* it is beyond my comprehension.' ' It is as plain,' 
said the General, ^ as a sun-beam.' ' How do you 
account for it V asked the Doctor. ' Because,' said 



658 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the General^ * they have the unction of the Holy 
Ghost.' " 

He thus describes another Camp Meeting of extra- 
ordinary power : *' It was held in Wythe county, on 
the New River circuit. I attended in company with 
Fechtig, Bromwell, and other preachers. The meet- 
ing began and progressed with a great deal of inter- 
est ; a number of souls found peace. The last night, 
at midnight, Fechtig preached on the sudden coming 
of the bridegroom : ' Go ye out to meet him ;' and 
though the sermon was powerful, there was little or 
no excitement ; in fact, there was a perfect drag. 
Bromwell and I begged him to let us have the man- 
agement of the meeting, and we would have what we 
called a march ; he refused, we insisted ; finally he 
consented ; but said he would have no part in it, and 
that we should bear the responsibility of a failure. 
I then had the ends of the altar taken out, and told 
the friends who usually sat in it, that when they saw 
Bromwell and myself at the upper end of the encamp- 
ment, they must come to us and do just as we did. 
We then had all the camp-fires lit up afresh, and 
taking our stand close together at the upper part of 
the ground, began to sing. The outsiders now began 
to gather around us, and our friends from the altar 
around them. We then called them to prayer. After 
prayer (having previously instructed the trumpeter 
what to do,) W'O began to sing, ' Blow ye the trumpet 
blow,' and started in a slow march for the altar en- 
circling the camp-ground; at intervals the trumpet 
was blown, while the chorus of the h^'mn swelled out 
in fall power. The number increased as the trumpet 



IN Virginia: 659 

called them from their tents. The scene now became 
awfully solemn. Many in the movuig throng cried 
aloud for mercy, others shonted for joy, while many 
broke away, ran into the woods and fell at the feet of 
their horses in trying to escape. The ground was lit- 
erally strewn with penitents from the starting place to 
the altar ; we now stopped the procession. I then 
began to exhort from the stand, another preacher 
from the altar poles, and Fechtig out in the congre- 
gation. The people fell all over the encampment; 
there was a universal cry for mercy, mingled with 
shouts of the redeemed. There were more converts 
from that time to the close of the exercises the next 
day, than there had been during the previous days of 
the meeting. There were some who left the ground 
at the highest speed of their hcrses, and reaching 
home, fell prostrate on the floor in powerful convic- 
tion. Our movements, after blowing the trumpet, 
were all unpremeditated ; we acted and spoke as the 
Spirit moved us." 

This was truly an awful and glorious night. The 
reader will readily and justly conclude, that the minds 
of the people had been prepared, and their hearts 
deeply impressed by the exercises of the previous days, 
and especially by the solemn rnidnight sermon of such 
a preacher as Fechtig. The march, the singing, the 
call of the trumpet to join the procession, then the 
last earnest and powerful exhortations of the preachers, 
contributed to finish the work of conviction, and ex- 
tort the cry, *'' "What must we do to be saved?" 

In other parts of this District, (Greenbrier,) there 
were powerful revivals and many additions to the 



660 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Church. In Rockingham circuit more than two hun- 
dred were converted in the course of six months. 
The work hroke out at a Camp Meeting lield near 
Harrisonburg, and the sacred flame spread gloriously 
through the county. Persons of all ages shared in 
these gracious influences. Children of tender years 
sought and found pardon, and their astonishing fluency 
and unaflected simplicity in narrating the work of 
grace to their parents, had the happiest efiect in bring- 
ing whole families to the knowledge of the truth. 
Many who had been vile opposers of religion, were 
smitten with conviction, and not a few of these em- 
braced the faith they once sought to destroy. 

In Greenbrier circuit the work was equally great, 
nearly three hundred having been gathered into the 
gospel fold during the year. 

The venerable Valentine Cook this year made a 
visit to the scenes of his early labors in Pennsylvania 
and Virginia. While in the latter State an incident 
occurred which resulted in a glorious revival. He 
was invited to spend the night with a wealthy gentle- 
man whose family, consisting of himself, his wife 
and sister-in-law, were infidels. The evening con- 
versation was on general subjects, and the time passed 
swiftly and pleasantly. The next morning the gen- 
tleman was called away at an early hour. Before 
Cook left he felt impressed that Providence had led 
him to that house, where, perhaps, a minister had 
never before passed a night. '* I must not leave," he 
said to himself, ** till I have made an efibrt to do them 
some good." Finding the sister-in-law alone in the 
parlor, he took his seat by her side and spoke point- 



IN VIEGINIA. 661 

edly on the importance of religion. ^* But," said be, 
" my words fell pointless at her feet. She could look 
me fall in the face and answer with unhesitating flip- 
pancy. I pansed, and looked within, and asked my- 
self if my heart was perfectly right to hold that con- 
versation. I found reason to think it was not. I 
arose and retired to the woods; there, for many 
hours, I wrestled in earnest prayer for a preparation 
to address the lady as I should. The power came in 
the form of melting love. I returned, and providen- 
tially found the lady again alone in the parlor. I 
recommenced the conversation in ahout the same 
strain as before, but with quite different effect. Her 
head dropped, her eye filled, her bosom heaved ; the 
victory was complete. The arrows of the Almighty 
stuck fast, and drank up her spirits." He soon after 
left, but the ** nail was fastened in a sure place." 
The gentleman came home and found both the ladles 
in tears. On learning the cause he became indignant, 
swore vengeance against the preacher, who, he said, 
invited to his house as a gentleman, had tak:en advan- 
tage of his courtesy to destroy the peace of his fam- 
ily. He would horse-whip him on sight. But the 
power of grace worked mightily, wife and sister soon 
found peace. The madman was calmed, conquered, 
and sat down at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his 
right mind. A few days after the preacher was seen 
approaching the house. The happy man rushed out 
to meet him, not with horse-whip in hand, but with 
the light of a new joy in his eye, and the love 
of Christ in his heart. A week's preaching in the 



662 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

neighborliood resulted in the conversion of one hun- 
dred souls. 

The Conference for 1820 hegan at Richmond on 
the 23d February. Bishop George presided. Six 
candidates were admitted on trial ; two were read- 
mitted ; eight located ; two had died ; one was re- 
turned supernumerary ; three were superannuated ; 
thirteen Deacons and six Elders were elected and or- 
dained ; of the local preachers eleven were elected to 
Deacon's, and six to Elder's orders. The amount re- 
ceived from the Book Concern was |300 ; from the 
Chartered Fund, |170 ; there is no record of circuit 
collections. The number of members was 17,626 
whites, and 6,130 colored ; of these North Carolina 
had 8,450 whites, 3,468 colored ; Virginia, 9,176 
whites, 2,662 colored. A decrease was again reported 
of more than 1,000 in the bounds of the Conference. 
The returns from all the circuits in the State showed 
21,907 white, and 5,249 colored members; the in- 
crease was above 1,700. There were 21 circuits in 
I^orth Carolina, and 20 in Virginia ; the latter had 
33, the former 29 preachers ; 48 was the whole num- 
ber of circuits in the State, supplied by 81 preachers. 

The following were elected delegates to the General 
Conference : E. Drake, James Patterson, John T. 
Weaver, Edward Cannon, M. M. Dance, Daniel Hall^ 
Peyton Anderson, and William Compton. 

Two faithful laborers had been called to their rest 
during the year. John T. Brame was a native of 
Caroline county. He was converted when only four- 
teen years old. In his twenty- third year he gave 
himself to the work of saving souls^ and was received 



INTIRGINIA. 663 

on trial in the Conference. Five years completed Ms 
career as a preacher, but in that short period he made 
full proof of bis ministry. Wherever be was sent he- 
saw the pleasure of the Lord prospering in his hands. 
Many will rise in the last day rejoicing that they ever 
heard the word from his lips. " His preaching was 
not with enticing words of man's wisdom ; but in 
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that the 
faith of bis bearers should not stand in wisdom of 
men, but in the power of God." 

In the midst of his labors he was taken with bilious 
fever, and felt that his sickness w^as unto death. For 
several days before he died the enemy thrust sorely 
at him, but he contiuued in prayer whenever in his 
right mind. Amid the wanderings of delirium the 
voice of prayer never failed to recall him to the right 
use of his powers. While the brethren were bowed 
around his bed appealing to God for his dying servant, 
the light broke into his soul, and he rejoiced in hope 
of glory ; thus he continued till the silver cord was 
loosed, and his "spirit ascended to its place in the 
heavens. He died at the early age of twenty-seven. 

George Burnett was bom in Pittsylvania county. 
He, too, remembered his Creator in the days of his 
youth. Feeling that a dispensation of the gospel was 
committed to him, he offered himself to the Confer- 
ence and was admitted on trial. He had travelled 
not quite three years when he was called to exchange 
the *^ cross of suffering for the crown of life." He 
was a good man, full of faith and the Holy Ghost. 

The name of Moses Brock appears for the first time 
in the appointments of this Conference. Few men 



QQi MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

are more vividly remembered in Virginia and Kortli 
Carolina. For more than forty years he has been a 
man of mark in the Church. No man was ever more 
perfectly original in character ; there never b?js been 
but one Moses Brock. His ability as a preacher was 
superior, (we speak of him iu the time of his full 
power in the Conference,) but not always equally dis- 
played. When the occasion called out all his strength 
lie was forcible, eloquent, and eminently successful, 
Naturally witty, overflowing with humor, and often 
highly eccentric in manner and language, he has had 
to share more than half the odd sayings and doings 
in every Conference where he has labored. His 
power of satire was remarkable, and when employed 
to rebuke sin, or to let down a people who thought 
too highly of themselves, its strokes were sore and 
terrible. In the most quiet manner he would apply 
the lash till his victims literally writhed under the 
torture. His self-possession w'as almost perfect. 
Perhaps no man ever saw him thrown off his balance 
by any occurrence, how- ever singular or startUng in 
its nature. Calm, determined, sagacious and thought- 
ful, he was a noted man among preachers and people. 
He worked hard and long as an itinerant, first in the 
Virginia, then in the North Carolina, and lastly in 
the Memphis Conference. When he felt unable to 
do the full work of a travelling preacher, he declined 
to take an inefficient relation, but located and retired 
to the quiet and abundance of his country home. 
There the gray-haired veteran awaits his call to a seat 
in the heavens.* 

*He has since entered into rest. 



IN VIRGINIA. 6^5 

The name of Pliilip Courtney is the most noted 
among the local preachers raised to Elder's orders at 
this session. More than sixty years this venerable 
man has been a member of the Church at Kichmond, 
and above fifty, a zealous and useful local preacher. 
He may be called the father of Methodism in the 
Capital of the State. He has moved on with it from 
those early days when the little class gathered for wor- 
ship in the county Court-house to the present time. 
He has shared all her trials and her triumphs, and 
now, beyond the middle of the century, he can look 
around and say. Behold ! What hath God wrought? 
In all these years he has teen a ready and faithful 
workman. With a mind quick, vigorous, and ori- 
ginal, a fine flow of spirits, and a memory well stored 
with incidents and anecdotes of the past, but few men 
have been more acceptable as preachers or more 
agreeable as companions. He has never worn out as 
a preacher ; his sermons are fresh, spiritual, enter- 
taining and instructive. And now, after half a cen- 
tury's service in the Richmond pulpits. Father Court- 
ney is always heard with pleasure and profit. His 
mind is rich in reminiscences of the city, her progress, 
her churches of all denominations, and her great 
men, preachers, lawyers, politicians, editors and mer- 
chants. He has known them all, many of them inti- 
mately, and they are made to live and move and speak 
before you in his lively narratives He has been em- 
inently useful in other fields. As a teacher he has 
accomplished a vast amount of good. For many 
years he was at the head of the Lancasterian School, 
and his faithful labors here have been amply repaid 



666 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

in the high positions many of his scholars have reached 
in Richmond and other places. As President of the 
Virginia Bible Society he is widely and favorably 
Iniown. In this position, which he has held for many 
years, his dignity, candor, intelligence and piety, have 
commanded the respect and confidence of all the 
leading men of the different churches engaged in this 
noble enterprise. 

This useful and rare specimen of a man was brought 
into the work of the ministry by a singular incident. 
Being present at a Camp Meeting in Chesterfield 
county, the preacher having charge of the exercises 
insisted that he should preach. Having never spoken 
in public beyond a brief exhortation, he at once de- 
clined, stating that he had no license. The preacher 
would take no denial ; preach he must. Thus forced 
to make the attempt, he mounted the stand with fear 
and trembling. In a faltering voice he announced 
his text. No sooner had the words fallen from his 
lip&, than three young ladies fell from their seats, cry- 
ing out in deep conviction. The exercises, thus sud- 
denly interrupted, could not be resumed ; the number 
of mourners increased every moment, and the young 
preacher left the pulpit to labor in the altar. The 
meeting went on with great power, and many souls 
were converted. The preacher stationed in the city 
now declared that Philip Courtney must have license 
to preach ; that his call had been clearly proved by 
the conviction of three persons at the bare reading of 
his text. He was accordingly licensed at the ensuing 
Quarterly Meeting. His ministry, thus happily begun, 
nas since gathered its seals in rich abundance. With 



;' IN VIRGINIA. 667 

the cause of Sunday Schools he has heen identified 
since the year 1817, when the first Sunday School 
was organized in Eichmond. The Presbyterians 
began operations at the same time, under the leader- 
ship of the distinguished Dr. John H. Eice. The 
Baptists were requested to unite in the enterprise, but 
they declined to have anything to do with such 
schools. How happily different now is the policy of 
that denomination. The number gathered into this 
school was about forty. Previously it had been cus- 
tomary for the preacher to meet the children at the 
Church every Saturday for catechetical instruction. 
Up to the present time Father Courtney has been a 
faithful laborer in this cause. It is a beautiful sight 
to see the veteran of more than eighty years seated 
in the midst of his class, planting the seeds of life 
eternal in the hearts of the youthful listeners. To 
him such work is no drudgery ; it is a labor of love. 

He has, perhaps, officiated at more marriages and 
funerals than any other minister in the State. His 
matrimonial register shows a list of above twelve 
hundred couples for whom he has tied the silken cord ; 
and often in the same family, the names of parents, 
children, and grand-children, are recorded as having 
received the service at his hands. 

In his eighty-third year, a genial, affable, and kind- 
hearted old man, loving and beloved, he yet lingers 
on the shores of time, waiting in the full assurance 
of faith for the call to enter the mansions of the 
blessed.* 

*He has since fallen asleep in Jesus. 



668 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

On tlie first of May the tMrd delegated General 
Conference convened at Baltimore. "We shall give a 
brief summary of the acts of this body. The difficul- 
ties which had arisen between the American preachers 
and the missionaries of the British Conference in 
Canada, were adjusted by a division of the work 
between the two churches. The American Methodist 
Church taking charge of all the Societies in Upper, 
and the English of all in Lower Canada. 

Certain regulations were adopted concerning the 
building and securing of houses of worship. The 
slav^ery question was warmly debated, but the only 
action taken was to rescind the grant of 1812 to the 
Annual Conferences, giving them the right to form 
their own regulations on the subject. 

A very important change was made in respect to 
local preachers. Some dissatisfaction had been ex- 
hibited by many of this class because in the Quarterly 
Conferences they were not examined, licensed and 
tried exclusively by their peers. To meet their wishes 
the General Conference created ** District Confer- 
ences," to be held in each Presiding Elder's district, 
and to be composed of all the local preachers within 
the same who had been licensed for two years. Of 
this body the Presiding Elder was to be President ; 
in his absence the members were to elect a President 
from their own number. These Conferences were 
authorized to license proper persons to preach, to 
renew their licenses, to recommend candidates to the 
Annual Conferences for Deacon's or Elder's orders, 
in the local ranks, or for admission on trial m the 
travelling connection ; and to try, suspend, expel or 



IN VIRGINIA. 669 

acquit any local preacher against whom charges might 
be brought ; but no man could be licensed without a 
recommendation from his Quarterly Conference. 
This new wheel in the machinery of Methodism ap- 
pears not to have worked well, and it was allowed to 
drop out after sixteen years trial. 

The great battle of this General Conference was 
fought over the Presiding Elder question. The con- 
flict was long and severe. The strongest men of the 
Church were arrayed against each other, and strove 
in debate as if the most vital interests of Methodism 
were at stake. And this the contestants most firmly 
believed -, the friends of the plan felt that the 
preachers should have a voice in the appointment of 
those who, in some sense governed them, and that 
the responsibility of appointing the laborers to their 
work should be shared equally by the Bishop and his 
council of Elders ; the opponents of the plan con- 
tended that any such change in the economy of the 
Church would be fatal to Methodist Episcopacy and 
introduce an element of discord into the Annual Con- 
ferences. 

After much fruitless discussion it was agreed to 
appoint a committee of six, three in favor of, and 
three against the plan, to consult with the Bishops 
and report to the Conference. They reported that 
whenever vacancies should occur in the office, the 
Bishop should nominate three times the number 
wanted, and the Conference elect by ballot without 
debate ; where more than one was wanted, no more 
than three at a time should be nominated, nor more 
than one at a time elected. The Bishop bad author- 



670 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ity to fill all vacancies occurring in the intervals of 
the Conferences. 

It was further recommended that the Presiding 
Elders should be made the advisory council of the 
Bishop in stationing the preachers. The report was 
adopted by a vote of sixty-one to twenty-five, and 
ordered to be incorporated into the Discipline. This 
action was followed by unexpected results. Joshua 
Soule, who ha;l been elected Bishop, declined to 
receive ordination and resigned the office. Bishop 
McKendree appeared before the Conference and 
avowed his conviction that they had acted in violation 
of the Constitution, and stated that his sense of duty 
would not allow him to give effect to the resolutions. 
His views were afterwards fully elaborated in an able 
address to the Annual Conferences. In this state of 
things the Southern and Western members endea- 
vored to secure a reconsideration, but this the North- 
ern members succeeded in preventing. As a last 
resort, Edward Cannon, of the Virginia delegation, 
offered a resolution suspending the rule until the next 
General Conference, and by Iiis conciliatory manners 
and personal influence in conjunction with others, 
secured its passage. Thus the system of Methodism 
was saved from what might have been a fatal blow. 

The Virginia Conference of 1821 began at the city 
of Ealeigh on the 28th of February, Bishop George 
presiding. Nine were received on trial ; two read- 
mitted ; one discontinued ; four were superannuated ; 
ten located ; one had died ; seven Deacons and three 
Elders wore ordained ; of local preachers, four were 
elected to Deacon's, and two to Elder's orders. The 



IN TIRGINIA. 671 

only monies reported were from the Book Concern 
$300 ; from the Chartered Fund, $100. The mem- 
bership withm the hmits of the Conference was 18,- 
481 whites, 6,489 colored ; the increase was about 
1,200. The aggregate numbers in the State were 
23,300 whites, and 5,156 blacks. There were 54 
circuits in the State, supplied by 91 laborers ; of' 
these 6 were in the Kentucky, 4 in the Tennessee, 21 
in the Virginia, 22 in the Baltimore, and one in the 
Philadelphia Conference. 

One laborer, Archibald Robinson, a native of Korth 
Carolina, had ended his course during the year. He 
was awakened in his youth, and earnestly sought the 
pardon of his siiis. On one occasion, while listening 
to the reading of the hymn, ^ '■ Father I stretch my 
hands to thee," at family worship, he sunk on his 
knees and wrestled in prayer till his fetters were 
broken find his soul released. He finished his work 
in little more than two years, and died in great peace. 

The name of Thomas Crowder appears this year 
in the Minutes. He was born in "Wake county, N. 
C, in 1797. In 1819^ while at school in Kaleigh, he 
was converted, after having been a seeker for three 
years. Joyfully his young heart rested, after the long 
and" weary straggle with sin, in peace with God 
through faith in Christ. He prosecuted the study of 
law to some extent, but he gave this up for the greater 
work of saving souls. For above thirty years he 
was an earnest and successful preacher. As a pastor 
he was excelled by none, as a disciplinarian he was 
strict but kind ; in his preaching he wes close, search- 
ing and practical. Without being eloquent in the 



672 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

ordinary sense, his sermons were usually attended by 
such an unction of the Holy Ghost, and were deliv- 
ered with such fervor as to give them a direct path to 
the hearts of his hearers. He was a man of great 
purity of character; his all was consecrated to the 
service of Christ, and he seemed to have ever in 
his mind the sentiment of the Christian poet ; 

"Happy, if with my latest breath 
I may but gasp his name ; 
Preach him to all, and cry in death, 
Behold, behold the Lamb ?" 

He gathered thousands of souls to his ministry, 
many of whom have crossed the flood and greeted 
him before the throne ; and many still live who fondly 
cherish his memory and hope to hail him among the 
blessed. ** They that be wise, shall shine as the 
brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many 
to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever." 

This was a fruitful year in some portions of the 
Conference. In the ISTeuse and Yadkin Districts 
there was a gloiious revival. At a Camp Meeting in 
Granville, sixty were brought to God ; at another in 
Haw River Circuit, seventy were converted ; at a third, 
near Raleigh, about forty were saved from sin ; at a 
fourth, on the Tar River Circuit, there was a great 
display of divine power. *^ On Sunday evening," 
says an eye-witness, *' we had one of the most evident 
displays of the goodness of God, that I recollect ever 
to have seen. For about three hours there was such an 
awful sense of his sacred presence that both preachers 
and people were * lost in wonder, love and praise.' 



IN VIRGINIA. 673 

Some were induced to think they had received the 
blessing of sanctification. When the exercises closed 
on Monday, we foand that about forty souls had been 
born of the Spirit during this solemn meeting." At 
two other similar meetings about ninety were con- 
verted. At Hillsboro a meeting of great power was 
held. On the evening of Sunday, "such was the 
manifestation of the power and gooduess of God 
that perhaps thirty were prostrated to the floor under 
an overwhelming sense of his presence, most of 
whom were earnestly seeking mercy in the name of 
Jesus. Such a scene was never before witnessed in 
that place, and the most impenitent seemed awed into 
reverence." At these, and other meetings, between 
three and four hundred souls were happily converted, 
and most of them gathered into the Church. 

In Surry, Isle of "Wight, and Prince George coun- 
ties, there was an interesting work. At Laurel Spring 
meeting house the revival broke out at a quarterly 
meeting, and spread rapidly to other places, until 
nearly one hundred were converted. 

At a camp-meeting in Isle of Wight the Spirit de- 
scended in great power, and the praise of God burst 
from the lips of many who had been strangers to his 
name ; one hundred and fifty were here born from 
above ! At a similar meeting in Prince George about 
one hundred professed saving faith in Christ. 

In the Fall of the year a powerful revival broke 
out in Lynchburg, under the preaching of G. W. 
Charlton. An account of this work was furnished 
for the Methodist Magazine by Rev. John Early. 
*'The winter is past," he writes, " the rain is over 



674 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

a^nd gone," and the voice of singing is not onlylieard 
in our Church, but in love-feasts, our prayer meet- 
ings, our class meetings, in private houses, and in 
places and families where the songs of Zion were 
never heard before. 

The forebodings of this work had been seen and 
felt for several weeks before the last of October, when 
the first public manifestation of God's love was made 
in the conversion of souls ; after which the greatest 
excitement was seen ever before witnessed in this 
place. All classes of citizens attended to witness for 
themselves ; the Church was crowded — prayer meet- 
ings at private houses were overflowing ; and for sev- 
eral weeks they scarcely had a meeting (and they 
had them every night) without a gracions outpouring 
of the Spirit in the conviction and conversion of souls. 
The aged and the young, the most respectable and 
the most obscure of both sexes, have been the sub- 
jects of this work. The females, however, have in 
this revival been more generally impressed than ever 
witnessed in the place before. Nearly all who have 
professed to experience religion joined us forthwith. 
At one time I baptized fifteen adults, and at another 
ten, besides a number that had been baptized by 
Brother Charlton, the stationed preacher. Some of 
the wicked say that the preachers and people are de- 
ranged, and some professors join them against us ; 
but glory be to God in the highest ! our trust is in 
him. I do not recollect ever to have been in a revi- 
val where the people were so decent and respectful as 
they were in Lynchburg. "We have added upwards 
of one hundred to our Church in this revival, and I 



IN viRaiNiA. 675 

hope that the gracious visitations will be continued 
among us for many days. 

The principal agent in this revival is George W. 
Charlton, the stationed preacher, whose faithful and 
laborious services will never be forgotten by the pre- 
sent inhabitants of Lynchburg. At present our peo- 
ple appear to be of one heart and one mind. Behold 
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 
together in unity ! May peace and good will rule our 
hearts forever. 

"We have also had abundant reason for humility, 
gratitude and thanksgiving in Bedford circuit ; num- 
bers have been radically changed by Divine grace, 
and our prospects are yet blooming for better and 
more abundant fruits ! 

The Conference of 1822 met at New Berne, ^. C, 
on the 20th of March. Bishops McKendree and 
George were present ; seven were admitted on proba- 
tion ; two were readmitted ; two were dropped ; one 
was returned supernumerary; four were superan- 
nuated ; six located ; seven were admitted into full 
connection, and ordained Deacons ; nine were elect- 
ed and ordained Elders ; nine local preachers were 
elected to Deacons, and nine to Elders' orders. 
The sum of three hundred was drawai from the Book 
Concern, and one hundred fmm the Chartered 
Fund. N"o record of circuit collections. The mem- 
bers were reported at 19,329 whites and 6,625 col- 
ored, showing an increase of nearly 1,000. The entire 
membership in Virginia was 25,742 whites and 6,725 
blacks ; the aggregate increase was 3,000. The cir- 
cuits numbered 54,. supplied by 96 preachers. 



676 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

This Conference took a decided stand in opposi- 
tion to the action of the General Conference on the 
Presiding Elder question. The whole subject was 
presented in the following address of Bishop McKen- 
dree to the Conference. This important and able 
document we have never seen in print. 
^^ To the Annual Conferences of the M. E. Church: 

''Dear Brethren: The sacred trust confided to 
us, and a sense of the high responsibility it involves, 
brings me to address you on the subject of the long 
protracted controversy respecting the power of our 
Supermtendents. A controversy this, of peculiar in- 
terest to you, and one that you only can direct to a 
proper issue. 

"For many years a respectable minority of our 
General Conference had laboured to produce a change 
in our form of government. This they would effect 
by transferring from the Bishops to the Annual Con- 
ference the right to appoint the Presiding Elders, and 
then committing to the Presiding Elders the power to 
station the preachers. Such a change your Superin- 
tendent believes would go to subvert our present form 
of government. Because, 1st. To transfer the exe- 
cutive authority from the Bishops to the Annual Con- 
ferences would be to do away that form of Episco- 
pacy and Itinerant General Superintendency which is 
recognized in our Discipline and confi^rraed by the 
third article of the Constitution. 2nd. By doing away 
our present effective General Superintendency the 
itinerancy throughout would be much injured, if not 
entirely destroyed. 3rd. The contemplated change, by 
infringing that particular restriction which guards 



IN VIRGINIA. 677 

the Episcopacy, must also subject the whole Constitu- 
tion of the Church to the will of the General Confer- 
ence, and so divest the members of the Church of the 
only legal security of their rights. 

** 1st. That the proposed change would transfer the 
executive authority from the Bishops to the Annual 
Conferences, and thereby do away that form of Epis- 
copacy, and Itinerant General Superintendency which 
is recognized in the Discipline will appear by exam- 
ining into the duties of the Episcopacy, as defined in 
the Discipline and exemplified in the Government. 

** According to the Form of Discipline, it is the 
duty of the Bishops to travel through the connection 
at large, to oversee the spiritual and temporal inter- 
ests of the Church. Bat *to oversee' implies the 
power to direct, to manage the business of this over- 
sight. In order, therefore, to qualify the Bishops to 
oversee the important business committed to their 
charge, and to carry our system into full eflfect, they 
are authorized ' to preside in the Conferences ; to fix 
the appointments of the preachers for the several cir- 
cuits ; to form the districts and choose Presiding El- 
ders : and, in the intervals of the Conferences, to 
change, receive and suspend preachers, as necessity 
may require and the Discipline direct.' And, in or- 
der to secure a faithful performance of their duty, 
and at the same time to guard against an abuse of 
power, the Bishops are obliged to act in strict con- 
formity to rules formed by the preachers, — to whom 
they are accountable for their administration, and by 
whom they may be expelled for improper conduct. 

** In the appointment of preachers, those who are to 



S7S MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

have the charge of circuits, districts, &c,, are selected ; 
and, by virtue of their appointment, are fully invested 
with authority to discharge the duties of their several 
offices. And, in the event of their having neglected 
their duty as pointed out in the Discipline, it is re- 
quired of the Superintendent (after suitable admoni- 
tion) to remove these improper officers and to appoint 
such as will attend to the duties assigned them, 

*^By employing preachers during the interval of 
Conferences, and making such changes from district 
to district, and from Conference to Conference, as the 
state of our work may require, the General Superin- 
tendents are able to enlarge the field of our missionary 
labours and provide instruction for the destitute. In 
tills way uniformity in administration is preserved 
throughout the Conferences, errors are readily cor- 
rected, and the rules and regulations of the General 
Conference carried into effect, while the whole admin- 
istration, in every part of the work, through the re- 
sponsibility of the General Superintendents, is brought 
under the inspection and control of the General Con- 
ference. 

** Thus qualified for the work, it is the Bishops rea- 
sonable duty to travel through the connection at 
large, to oversee th^e spiritual and temporal business 
of the Church. And it is equally reasonable and just 
that they be responsible to ihe General Conference 
for the faithful performance of their duty. 

** From this view of our governnient, it evidently 
follows that the power of appointing the preachers, 
and especially the Presiding Elders, is of vital impor- 
tance to our General Superintendency. "Without this 



IN VIRGINIA. 679 

they could not * oversee the business of the Church.' 
The Presiding Elders, within the limits of their sev- 
eral districts, are invested with all the powers of Su- 
perintendents — the right to ordain only excepted — 
and, but for their being subject to the control of the 
Bishops, might counteract their measures and render 
their superintendeucy a mere name. At present the 
Presiding Elders are under obligations to attend to 
the instructions of the General Superintendents, but 
were the proposed change adopted, these obligations 
would be transferred to the Annual Conferences, and 
the Presiding Elders made as independent of the 
Bishops as now they are of the Conferences. Thus 
independent, each one of them possessing in his dis- 
trict the same authority with an absent Bishop, to 
what purpose should the Bishop travel through the 
connection at large ? Could it be expected of them 
to travel six thousand miles yearly only to see abuses 
which they could not correct ? — the instructions of 
difierent Conferences varying — the Presiding Elders 
administering differently — and perhaps the economy 
of the Church as variously interpreted as there might 
be opinions of proper discipline ? Kow, if the pro- 
posed change would render it impracticable to the 
Bishops to discharge the duties of their superintend- 
eucy, then the inference is plain that our * Episcopacy 
and Itinerant General Superintendeucy' must be de- 
stroyed. 

"But the duties of the Itinerant Gener'al Superin- 
tendeucy consist in 'the overseeing the temporal and 
Bpiritual business of the Church,' which we have seen 
they cannot do unless it be allowed them to control 



680 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the Presidiug Elders and the preachers in charge— 
the more immediate agents in ^ the business' they are 
required * to oversee.' But the change we are con- 
sidering would remove these from under the control 
of the Bishops, therefore this proposed change would 
destroy the Itinerant General Superintendency. 

' ' 2nd. By doing away our present effective Gen- 
eral Superintendency, the itinerancy throughout would 
he much injured, if not entirely destroyed. 

** Under different circumstances, that the itineran- 
cy might be different, modified, and equally succeed, 
is fully admitted. Could all travelling preachers at- 
tend in our Annual Conferences to account fjr their 
administration and receive their appointments and 
instructions, the itinerancy in America and England 
might prosper, equally independent of a General Su- 
perintendency or a General Conference. But our 
situation is widely different from theirs. Our work 
extends beyond twenty- four States ; and besides, its 
mere extension subjects us to many inconveniences 
arising out of the various civil regulations of different 
States and Territories. Those are all equal in power 
and independent of each other, no one claiming a 
right to direct another. The jurisdiction of each 
Annual Conference is restricted within its own limits, 
and each Presiding Elder to his own district. 

** Out of this disposition of the Church arises the 
necessity of a General Conference to legislate for the 
united Annual Conferences, and for a General Super- 
intendency to enforce the acts of the Conference — 
to preserve an uniform administration of Discipline- 
to maintain the harmony of the Annual Conferences 



IN VIRGINIA. 681 

—-and by removing preachers from district to district, 
and from Conference to Conference, (acts wliich no 
Annual Conference, nor Presiding Elder can do), to 
perpetuate and extend our missionary labors through- 
out the Continent. To divest the Church, therefore, 
of the Itinerant General Superintendency, would be to 
take from the General Conference that energy by which 
its laws are enforced — to confuse the administration 
of Discipline — to weaken the union of the Annual 
Conferences, and to injure the work at large. To 
whom could the General Conference look to carry 
their laws into effect ? Not to the Presiding Elders, for 
they are amenable to the Annual Conferences ; nott(j 
the Annual Conferences, for they cannot be identified 
before a General Conference ; and not to the Bishops, 
(if indeed it were j)Ossible to preserve the name 
without the functions of the office— or if there can 
be Bishops without superintending authority) they 
can have no control over agents whom they do not 
appoint, and who may be maintained in office inde- 
pendent of their will. And as there would be wanting 
an adequate authority to execute the laws of the Gen- 
eral Conference under its immediate cognizance, so 
the absence of that authority must render each An- 
nual Conference supreme, and leave the administra- 
tion of Discipline to the uncertain, varying conveni- 
ence of their separate circumstances. 

** Such a state of thhigs might result in division. 
But, even if it should not, who could make local con- 
venience submit to the general good ? Who could 
employ the strength of one Conference to aid another ? 



682 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

or who could send the preachers beyond the Confer- 
ence limits ? 

** Forasmuch, then, as the due enforcement of the 
-laws of the General Conference — the maintaining of 
a uniform administration of discipline — the harmony 
of the Conferences, their union, and extending the 
work in general, are all so intimately connected with 
our form of Episcopac}- and Itinerant General Super- 
intendency, I conclude that by doing away our Epis- 
copacy the itinerancy throughout would be much in- 
jured, if not. entirely destroj-ed, 

** 3rd. The contemplated change, by infringing that 
particular restriction which guards the Episcopacy, 
must also subject the whole Constitution of the 
Church to the will of the General Conference, and so 
divest the members of the Church of the only legal 
security of their rights. 

** Before the Constitution was adopted the General 
Conference, composed of all the travelling preachers in 
the connection, held unlimited powers ; and at every 
sitting of the Conference the whole economy of the 
Church — not excepting the articles of religion, our 
doctrines, and our discipline, — was subject to their 
authority and liable to change. Of this state of things 
serious consequences were apprehended, and the 
preachers who composed the Conference of 1808, 
fully possessed of all the powers of the Conference of 
1784, (which organized the Church), came together 
expecting to establish a delegated General Conference. 
This was done, and the delegated General Conference 
authorized to le^'islate for the Church under certain 
'limitations and restrictions.' By these the articles 



IN VIRGINIA. 683 

of religion and the doctrines of the Church, her Epis- 
copal form of government, her terms of communion, 
the right of preachers and people of trial by commit- 
tee and of an appeal, and the proper use of the funds 
of the Church, are put beyond the powers of the Gen- 
eral Conference. On other subjects the Conference 
may legislate, but these are positively interdicted, un- 
less upon the joint recommendation of all the Annual 
Conferences. 

*^ I^or is there any variety in the force of these re- 
strictions ; no one is more binding than the rest. 
They are of equal authority, and equally forbid the 
intermeddling of the Conferenc-e. InTow the proposed 
change interferes with one of these restrictions ; it 
does away our form of Episcopacy and destroys ^ the 
plan of our Itinerant General Superint^ndency.' Bat 
if the several restrictions held in the Constitution be 
of equal obligation upon the General Conference, and 
the General Conference, nevertheless, do act in con- 
tradiction of one of them, so as to do what the Con- 
stitution forbids being done, then the General Con- 
ference may also violate any other restriction of the 
Constitution and make themselves wholly independ- 
ent of it. 

** If ^the plan of our Itinerant General Superin- 
tendency' may be destroyed our articles of religion 
may also be changed, the rules of the united societies 
may be revoked, the funds of the Church* may be 
appropriated unlawfully, and so of the rest. There- 
fore, the contemplated change would subject the whole 
Constitution of the Church to the will of the General 



684 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Gonference, and by so doing divest the members of 
the Church of the only security of their rights. 

'* At the last sitting of the General Conference the 
long protracted controversy concerning the powers of 
the Superintendents was brought to an eventful crisis. 
Very probably, however, it bad ended as formerly 
but for tbe introduction of what was thought to be 
an accommodating resolution. This led to the fol- 
lowing resolutions of the Conference : 

*V^n. Whenever in any Annual Conference there 
shall be a vacancy, or vacancies, in the office of Pre- 
siding Eider, — in consequence of the period of service 
of four years having expired, or the Bishops wishing 
to remove any Presiding Elder, or by death, resigna- 
tion, or otherwise, — the Bishops or President of the 
Conference having ascertained the number wanted 
from any of these causes, shall nominate three times 
the number, out of which the Conference shall elect 
by ballot, without debate, the number wanted. Pro- 
vided there is more than one wanted, not more than 
three at a time shall be nominated, nor more than 
one at a time elected. Provided, also, that in case of 
any vacanc}^ or vacancies in the office of Presiding 
Elder in the interval of Conference, the Bishop shall 
have authority to fill said vacancy or vacancies until 
the ensuing Conference. 

*^ ' 2. The Presiding Elders be, and hereby are, 
made the advisory council of the Bishop or President 
of the Conference in stationing the preachers.' 

** These resolutions, under the impression that they 
would reconcile former differences and harmonize the 
Conferences, were passed by a majority of more than 



m VIRGINIA. H 6^ 

itwo-thirds of the General Conference. Aifterwards, 
however, many were convinced that the resolutions 
were -unconstitutional, and suspended their operation 
for four years. The history of the last General Con- 
ference has informed you of how great importance 
your Superintendent regarded this subject. The very 
painful task of appearing before tbe Conference to 
avow his conviction of their having acted against the 
Constitution, and his sense of duty not to give effect 
to resolutions that were unconstitutional, could not 
have been urged upon him by anything less than a 
full belief that these resolutions were of the most 
harmful tendency. He regarded them — and he still 
regards them — not justified upon the bare argument 
of their probable good or bad effects, but of this with- 
ont reference to the Constitution, he would have said 
nothing. He objected against them (and but for their 
suspension that objection might have gone into an 
appeal to the Annual Conferences) upon the ground 
of their being in violation of the Constitution. After 
what has been said of the indispensable necessity ol 
the Constitution to preserve the itinerancy and main- 
tain the most essential rights of both the preachers 
and the people, you will not suppose that I attach to 
it too great importance, nor will you hastily pass over 
what would infringe it. 

** We have seen that the transferring the executive 
authority from the Bishop to the Annual Conferences 
wonld do away the Episcopacy and Itinerant General 
Superintendency. And, having considered the direct 
effect of such n change upon our whole economy, I 
need not repeat to you how indispensable it is to the 



686 MEMOKIALS OF METHODISM 

preservation of the Itinerant General Superintendency 
that the Superintendents he able to control the Pre- 
siding Elders ; that if the Presiding Elder be render- 
ed independent of the Superintendents — and in the 
eame measure that they became so — their ability must 
be enfeebled and the executive authority transferred. 
What if the suspended resolutions but divide the con- 
trol of the Presiding Elders with the Bishops and the 
Conferences ? Do they not so far remove the Pre- 
siding Elders from under the control of the Bishops ? 
And, if the placing them under the control of the 
Conferences exclusively would involve the destruction 
of our General Superintendency, what does the divi- 
vision effect ? Must it not, at least, injure the Super- 
tendency ? 

**But, further, the parts ascertained in the reso- 
lutions and divided to the Bishop and the Conference, 
in constituting the Presiding Elders, are so unequal 
as to fix no obligation on the elected Elder, except to 
the Conference only, li^or can the Bishop tell, until 
the Conference shall have decided for him, how much 
his prerogative may accomplish, whether anything or 
nothing. The Bishop may nominate three persons, 
but who of them is indebted for his preference ? 
Two of these he cannot prefer ; they are named only 
of necessity ; and they all have two reasons to one for 
suffering each to be himself of the non-elect. But the 
election of the Conference fixes upon one their exclu- 
sive preference, and enlists a sense of obligation to 
prefer the Conference in return ;— to please them 
rather than obey the Bishop whenever both these can- 
not be done. 



IN VIRGINIA. 



68>r 



** Again, if the Presiding Elders are executive of- 
ficers (and this none will deny, seeing that in their 
districts they are charged with the very duties of Su- 
perintendents) by w^hom is the authority conferred ? 
Do the Bishops appoint them ? no more than they do 
twice a greater number of persons, whom certainly 
they do not prefer, and who may never be Presiding 
Elders. What executive authority then can any one 
receive by the Bishop's nomination ? Which one of 
the peculiar duties of the Presiding Elder's office can 
a barely nominated person execute? But which may 
not the elected elder do ? However the resohitions 
may seem to divide the constituting a Presiding Elder, 
the Conference alone holds his obligations^ the Conference 
alone confers his authority. 

" ]N"ow, it has been proved by our first argument 
that to transfer the executive authority from the Bish- 
ops to the Annual Conferences would destroy our 
Itinerant General Superintendency. And in the 
argument it is shown that the work for which the 
General Superintendency was constituted cannot be 
done — the Bishops cannot *' oversee the temporal and 
spiritual business of the Church," unless the imme- 
diate agents in that business are put under their con- 
trol. But the suspended resolutions would transfer 
to the Annual Conferences so much of the executive 
authority as belongs to the office of Presiding Elder. 
These Presiding Elders, possessing in their districts 
like authority with the Bishops, number them aa 
seventy to three; so that without the further influence 
given to the Presiding Elders by the second resolu- 
tion;, the first alone confides to the Annual Confer- 



688 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

ences seventy of seventy-three farts of the whde executive 
authority of the Church. And thereby the Presiding 
Elders would share with the Bishops in the Superin- 
tendency as seventy to three. I say ivould share by 
their Presiding Elders with the Bishops in the Superin- 
tendency ; for the Presiding Elders, as we have seen, 
would be authorized by the Conferences, and not by 
the Bishops, and would be under obligation to those, 
not to them. 

** And if it be thought that so large a transfer of the 
executive authority does not destroy our Itinerant 
General Superintendency, I ask, how much more 
might be destroyed? Surely not more than three of 
seventy-three parts ; sevent^^^ of which are already in 
the resolutions. 

" But if the delegated Conference can go so far, 
what shall hinder them farther ? If they may confer 
it oa the Annual Conferences to elect one of three^ 
why may not the election be made without a nomi- 
nation ? Why not the Conference be made to elect 
the preachers in charge of circuits ? or why not this 
and all the rest, put under the management of a com- 
mittee ? If any one instance of ' the Bishop's duty' 
can be alienated by the General Conference, why not 
every one ? They may say, he shall not nominate, as 
easily as they now say, he shall do no more. They 
may say he shall take no part in stationing the 
preachers, as rightfully as they now say, he shall not 
station them without advice, — all this, and more; 
they may say, he shall not preside in the Conferences, 
he shall neither change, receive, nor suspend preachers 
as constitutioually as now they say what they do. 



rf TIRGINIA. 68B 

But where, then, would be 'the plan of our Itinerant 
General Superintendency ?" Alas ! where is it now 1 
Do not all these and other instances of Episcopal duty 
make up that ^plan V Are they not all distinctly 
stated in the Discipline? "What marks distinguish 
those particular instances of the Bishop's duty which 
alone may be identified with * tlie 'pkm! of our Itine- 
rant General Superintendency ? Which one of them 
all can claim to be preserved by the Constitution ? If 
any one, more than others, it should be that which has 
been first wrested from the Constitution. But * the 
jplarC embraces them all — the Constitution guarantees 
the perpetutiy of that '■ plan,' and the resolutions of 
the last General Conference are in violation of the 
Constitution. But by the vote of the Conference we 
infer that the resolutions were thought to be at least 
prudentially necessary. To this expression of the 
mind of the Conference all due deference should be 
paid. Your Superintendent would offer much for 
peace ; the quiet of the Church deserves much. And 
if, after maturely weighing the resolutions, and their 
probable effects upon the Government, you believe 
the present state of things requires them, I would 
advise you to take measures by which they may be 
constitutionally introduced — if practicable. 

** I submit the whole case to your discretion. And 
may God, who glveth wisdom, direct you and bless 
you, and sanctify your deliberations to the Church and 
the glory of his name." 

W. McKefdree. 

This address was referred to an able committee. 



690 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

They reported the following resolutions, which were 
adopted by the Conference : 

** Whereas, Bishop McKendree has addressed us on 
the subject of two resolutions, passed at the last 
General Conference, relative to the appointing of 
Presiding Elders, which were suspended until the 
ensuing General Conference ; therefore, 

* * Resolved, 1 . That in our mature j udgment the said 
resolutions are contrary to the 3rd Article of the Con- 
stitution of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which 
declares that the General Conference * shall not destroy 
thepknof our Itinerant General Superintendency.' 

** Resolved, 2. That in our opinion the two resolu- 
tions passed at the General Conference of 1820 (rela- 
tive to the appointing Presiding Elders,) cannot be 
considered as rules of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
until, by the joint recommendation of all the Annual 
Conferences, and then by the majority of two-thirds 
of the General Conference, the third Article of the 
Constitution be amended. 

^^ Resolved, 3. That Bishop McKendree be respect- 
fully requested to leave a copy of the Address with 
the Conference. 

Resolved, 4. That the further consideration of this 
subject be postponed for the present." 

John Early, Chairman. 

At this session **a committee was appointed to 
point out a course of reading and study, and to ex- 
amine the candidates for admission into full connec- 
tion, and for the ministry." 

We find the following record, and give it as one 
specimen, out of many of the same kind found in the 



IN VIRGINIA, &^1 

Journal: ^^ Joshua Leigh, of Gloucester, was re- 
ceived on trial with the express understanding that 
the Presiding Elder of the James River District bring 
a proper recommendation to the next Annual Confer- 
ence." 

<* Jesse Lee's Manuscript Journals were committed 
to Peyton Anderson, with instructions to employ, if 
possible, the agents of the Methodist Book Concern 
to collect from them and publish^ such materials as 
would be by them regarded most prudential, with the 
imderstanding that if the work is published by and 
for the benefit of the Concern, the Agents must pay 
the Virginia Conference $150, to satisfy services ren- 
dered them by Mr. Thrift." 

We believe the Journals have never been published. 

The year following this Conference was one ot 
great prosperity to the churches in Virginia. In al- 
most every part of the State the Spirit was poured 
out with great power. Many Societies that had lin- 
gered for years in a lukewarm condition, were quick- 
ened into new life and vigor. In Suflblk Circuit, 
under the ministry of Rev. Allen Bernard, a great 
revival broke out, and Methodism gained an influence 
which it has maintained to the present time. 

*' Previous to this year," says the above named 
minister, *Uhe preacher had preached in Suffolk only 
on the week day. Occasionally Brother Cox, a local 
preacher, gave them a sermon on the Sabbath. The 
meeting house was free for all who desired to use it. 
Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, or O'Kelleyites. 
I determined to try a Sabbath appoiotment in the 
place. We had a class of about seventeen white, 



692 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and the saiiie number of colored members. In 
I»5'ovember of tbis year a District Conference was held 
ill the town, at which we had a number of local 
preachers from all parts of the District. D uring the ses- 
sion we had preaching at the free church, and a revival 
commenced ; first at a private house. One of the 
gayest ladies of the place fell under conviction one 
evening after family worship. As I rose from my 
knees, after the prayer, I began to sing ; the lady 
was weeping, and her husband was deeply serious ; 
after another prayer, and while I was singing, she fell 
prostrate on the floor crying for mercy. In a short 
time she found peace and was happy in the love of 
God. The news spread, and soon the room was full 
of people arrayed to see Mrs. H., so recently the 
votary of fashion, now praising God, and exhorting 
her friends to seek religion. The next day she was 
at the Clmrch still happy and zealous for God. How 
earnestly she talked to her friends and acquaintances, 
and with what wonderful success ! The work broke 
out, one after another was converted, and religion 
revived gloriously among professors, while many were 
brought from the ranks of Satan to serve the Lord 
and rejoice in the hope of heaven. 

This may be said to be the first revival in Suffolk, 
for although the Camp Meeting, held at Smith's Mill,, 
near the town, in 1803, numbered more converts by 
far, yet they were from different parts of the District, 
and but few from Suffolk. The Church, however, 
received several important additions from that meet- 
ing, but Methodism seems not to have taken hold on 
the community as it did after this revival. The old 



IN VIRGINIA. 693 

church was far too small to contain our congregations, 
and we resolved to build a larger one, which was 
accomplished after encounteriDg much opposition. 
In the establishment of religion in the Methodist 
Episcopal Churcb, in Suffolk, the following brethren 
and friends were prominent, viz : Eobert Cox, a local 
Elder ; James McGuire, John Parker, and Thomas 
Wills, members of the Church; and Captain Mills' 
Rlddick, and bis brother Joseph Riddick, both of 
whom coQtributed liberally to the building of the new 
Church." 

In the south-western portion of the State, embraced 
in the Ilolston Districts of the Tennessee Conference, 
the work of revival was great and glorious. At a 
series of Camp, and other meetings, held on J^ew 
River, Clinch, and Abingdon Circuits, nearly one 
thousand souls were converted. The preachers, full 
of faith and zeal, on these occasions had " happy 
opportunities of addressing hundreds whose hearts 
seemed to be sealed against the truth ; of combatting 
the powers of darkness, the superstitions of the day, 
and the march of infidelity ; of arousing the fears of 
the impenitent, establishing the hopes of the believer ; 
of warning the prodigal to return, the backslider to 
repent, and the lukewarm to fear. At these meetings 
hundreds were wounded by the energetic influences 
of the Holy Spirit. Many of the young and old, the 
rich and poor, and indeed of almost every rank and 
condition, found themselves before the '■ Most High,' 
and experienced the gospel to be ' the power of God 
unto salvation.' " 

One of the good fruits of this work was the ercc- 



694 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

tion of a church in the town of Abingdon, '^ the firat 
ever built in or near that place for the use of the 
Methodists." 

It is worthy of remark that the members of the 
church were, in a great measure, prepared for this 
gracious visitation by the exercise of discipline with 
mildness, but strictness on the part of the preachers, 
►'^hus the '^hearts of very many were prepared for the 
holy exercise of their respective gifts and graces in 
the vineyard of Christ," 

Meherrin District, in the Virginia Conference, was 
the scene of a general revival. In a letter, published 
in the Methodist Magazine, Rev. John Early, the Pre- 
siding Elder, gives a glowing account of this work. 
He writes : 

** Jehovah has visited this District in great mercy. 
At a camp-meeting held in Buckingham circuit, in 
the last of August, we had about forty converted. 
At another (Limestone Springs) in Bedford circuit, 
the week after, much good was done ; about sixty 
professed justifying grace ; forty joined us forthwith, 
and many immediately after. The camp-meeting in 
Amelia circuit commenced the last week in Septem- 
ber ; though we began the day of the great storm, 
under clouded circumstances, and not a minister pre- 
sent except the circuit preacher and myself, the sky 
became serene the next day, other laborers came to 
the help of the Lord against the mighty, and it was a 
memorable time ; about forty were converted. At 
another meeting, the week following, about sixty 
miles distant in Mecklenburg, we had a very great 
time ; sixty or seventy professed pardon through Je- 



IN VlRGrNIA. 695 

SUB Clirist, and among this nuniber three past the 
meridian of life, though, like vessels forced to land 
by shipwreck, came in at the eleventh hour, and 
shouted victory over their fell foe ; about fifty joined 
the church. 

** Indeed, it is a time of unction generally. In 
Greensville and Brunswick circuit, and particularly 
in Greensville county, where my heart bled to see 
iniquity abound, and the love of many wax cold, for 
the sake of the few who had not defiled their gar- 
ments, the Lord has visited them by his Spirit, and 
numbers have been happily converted. In Chester- 
field circuit, where we have seen affliction, the work 
has begun ; I am told that in ten days, beginning at 
our last Quarterly Meeting at Bold Spring, about 
twenty professed conversion in Cumberland county. 
The flame is now spreading in Buckingham and Ame- 
lia. In Bedford many are happily converted, and a 
large number have joined the Society. In Lynchburg 
our cause prospers ; several professed religion last 
Sunday night." 

During the progress of this work, especially in 
Chesterfield, it is said that '* persons have beenknow^n 
to eat their breakfast by candle light that they might 
be in time to hear the glorious tidings of salvation." 
In the midst of so great anxiety to hear the gospel, 
the Lord was glorified in the conviction of sinners, 
the conversion of penitents, and in the sanctification 
of believers. 

The greatest revival in this District broke out in 
Petersburg. The preacher was Hezekiah G. Leigh, 
then in the full flush of youthful zeal. The first signs 



696 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

of the work appeared among the Presbyteriaus, under 
the labors of Rev. Benjamin H. Rice and Rev.Mr. Lock- 
wood. In the early part of the Spring several young 
men of the Methodist Church began a prayer meeting 
in a counting-room east of Market Square, occupied 
by Wi.ham Brownly. The Divine blessing attended 
the efforts of these z?alous young Christians ; many 
became deeply affected, several were converted. From 
this little meeting, as a center, the work spread with 
increasing power. At length it broke out in the 
great congregation. The whole Church was quicken- 
ed, and came up to the help of the Lord against the 
mighty. Leigh was in his place as the leader of the 
host ; he was abundant in labors, preaching the 
word with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven. 
The work went on for three months. Prayer meet- 
ings were held daily in the church, and in private 
houses ; people of all ages and all social grades con- 
fessed the power of God. A feeling of solemn awe 
pervaded the town ; no class was exempt from the 
impressions of the truth. Business was to a great 
extent suspended, and men began to cast up the sum 
presented in the startling question, *'What shall a 
man give in exchange for his soul?" Infidels and 
scoffers were struck dumb by the wonderful displays 
of Divine grace. Many who had never read the Bi- 
ble, but to cavil at it, now searched it like the Bereans. 
People were converted everywhere — at home reading 
the Bible, in their closets at prayer, in their counting- 
rooms, and along the streets. One man, while sit- 
ting on a keg of nails in his store, was struck down 
with conviction, then prayed, and was forgiven ; an- 



IN VIRGINIA. 697 

Other was joyfully converted while reading Fletcher's 
Appeal to earnest seekers of salvation ; a third while 
waiting on his customers, gave his heart to God, 
shouted his praise, then fell dead, and went to heaven. 

In this revival the Methodists and Presbyterians 
labored together in Christian harmony, — there was no 
jealousy, no rivalry — all improper feelings were held 
in abeyance by the great desire to save sonls from 
'death. The Presbyterians gathered iuto their fold 
nearly one hundred of the converts ; the Methodists 
above two hundred, most of w^hom stood fast in the 
faith, and became zealous, liberal and devoted mem- 
bers of the Church of Christ. This work marks the 
era of a great moral revolution in Petersburg. 

In Lynchburg the work so happily begun the past 
year continued its progress under the zealous labors 
of Rev. G. W. Charlton. During the two years of 
his pastoriite the foundations of Methodism were firm- 
ly laid. Among the names of the converts are many 
who, to this day, form the main strength of the church 
in that city. The preacher, as the leader in this good 
w^ork, was made the subject of a merciless persecu- 
tion, but he held on his way with boldness and zeal, 
and finally triumphed over all his enemies. 

The Conference of 1823 met at Lynchburg, on the 
19th of March, Bishops McKendree and George pre- 
sided. The number admitted on trial was thirteen ; 
one was readmitted ; one was returned supernume- 
rary ; &VQ were on the superannuated list ; one had 
withdrawn ; five located ; five were elected to Dea- 
cons, and five to Elders orders ; six local preachers 
were admitted to the office of Deacon, five to that of 



698 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Elder. The only funds reported were $800 from the 
Book Concern, and |120 from the Chartered Fund. 
The white membership within the Conference bounds 
was reported at 19,931, the colored at 5,962, showing 
a slight decrease. The aggregate membership in the 
State was 25,874 whites and 5,179 colored ; there 
was a gain of little more than 100 whites, but a loss 
of above 500 blacks. The number of circuits in the 
State remained the same, fifty-four> supplied by nine- 
ty-seven laborers. 

The Conference again considered the suspended 
resolutions, and passed the following : 

** Resolved, That the Virginia Annual Conference 
authorize the passing at the next General Conference 
of the Suspended Resolutions of the last General Con- 
ference, in relation to the appointment of Presiding 
Elders, and of stationing the preachers, provided it 
shall pass by a majority of two-thirds of the General 
Conference." 

Of the thirteen young men received on trial at this 
session, the name of but one remains on the Confer- 
ence list. John Kerr, after forty years' service, yet 
remains among us, a man of pninty, fidelity and faith, 
passing the evening of a well spent life amid the 
qniet pleasures of his family circle.* 

A name appears on the Minutes this year with 
which a sad interest is connected. William Hammet 
took his place in the Virginia Conference, by transfer 
from Tennessee. He was a native of Ireland, came 
to this country in his youth, and was converted in one 

♦This good man has since peacefully closed his useful lifeo 



IN VIRGINIA. 699 

of the western counties of this State, embraced at 
that time in the Tennessee Conference. He soon 
felt the movings of the Holy Spirit in reference to 
the ministry, and in the ardor of his nature gave him- 
self fully to the work. Kature had made him an 
orator — she lavished her gifts upon him. His person, 
his face, his voice, his manner, all conspired to make 
him a favorite. To the natural fluency of his nation 
lie joined a vivacity that gave additional charms to 
his ministrations. "With but little mental training, he 
rose rapidly to a high position as a preacher. Crowds 
attended his services, and hung upon his words with 
wonder and delight. Perhaps no man better under- 
stood the art of pleasing his hearers, and yet, when 
the occasion demanded it, no man could excel him in 
cutting rebuke and withering sarcasm. 

Many preachers in the Conference were his supe- 
riors in theological knowledge, and in the breadth 
and weight of pulpit thought, but few, if any, equalled 
him in that persuasive eloquence which charmed while 
it convinced his audience. Ten years, of eminently 
successful service, he gave to the work in Virginia. 
He planned and built churches, conducted revivals, 
and begged money for every good cause with untiring 
energy and merited success. 

Old Trinity Church, in Richmond, was a monument 
of his industry and zeal. 

It is ead to chronicle the fall of such a man from 
the high office of an ambassador for Christ. A cloud 
rests on the later life of this man, which reflects 
I scarcely a ray of light. The melancholy narrative is 
goon told. With a mind highly endowed, but keenly 



700 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

alive to a popular applause, he became a spoiled 
favorite. After a brilliant career in Virginia, lie 
asked and obtained of the Conference, permission to 
visit his native land, where he spent two or more 
years. On his return, he located, and served as chap- 
lain, we believe, at the University of Yirginia, and 
afterwards to the Congress at Washington. He next 
studied medicine at Philadelphia, and soon after re- 
moved to Mississippi, where he married a lady of 
position and fortune. For several years he retained 
his place as a local minister in the Church ; he, how 
ever, preached but seldom, and gradually lost the 
spirit of his mission . He became a lover of the world, 
gay, fashionable and popular. Politics claimed his 
attention and excited his ambition. He was elected 
to Congress, and served one term without any partic- 
ular distinction as an orator or a statesman. Living 
in the midst of wealth, he dispensed an elegant hos- 
pitality, to which his graceful manners, his ready wit, 
and his agreeable conversation, gave still greater 
attraction. He quaffed the full chalice of worldly 
pleasure as if he had never tasted the ** cup of salva- 
tion." But his door was not closed against the heralds 
of the cross. The Methodist preachers found a wel- 
come and pleasant home beneath his roof, and the 
only shadow that rested upon their hearts was in the 
mournful contrast between the once humble, prayerful, 
and zealous preacher of the gospel, and the now 
proud, prayerless, and devoted man of the world. It 
is said that his life was closed by a lingering disease, 
and that during the many weary months through' 
which he slowly approached the grave, he became 



IN VIRGINIA. 701 

solemnly re-impressed with the truths of religion, and 
daily read the Scriptures. Let us hope that the wan- 
derer came back to the house of his Father and again 
received the seal of his love. An incident occurred 
in the city of Richmond, which, in the order of Prov- 
idence, may have been connected with his return to 
the forsaken fountain of living water. 

The last service ever held in the old Trinity Church 
was a love feast, to which all who felt peculiarly at- 
tached to that honored house were invited. A goodly 
number was present worshipping together for the 
last time on the spot where William Hammet had 
laboured to build a house for God. The meeting 
was one of great interest, God was in the midst of 
his people, and their hearts were warmed by his pre- 
sence. Near the close of the exercises a speaker 
iirose and stated that they were gathered for the last 
time in a house built by the labors of a man once 
highly honored and greatly beloved as a minister of 
Christ ; that for many years that man had cast away 
the faith he once preached, and while they rejoiced 
in the gospel of which he was once a flaming herald, 
he was now without its comfort and under its curse. 
In conclusion, he proposed that there and then special 
prayer should be m.ade for his recovery and salvation. 
With full hearts and tearful eyes the proposal was 
responded to, and before God the company bowed, 
and on the arms of their faith lifted the fallen pastor 
to the throne of God for mercy and pardon. 

The revival scenes which last year enliveued the 
mouiitains and valleys of Southwestern Virginia were 
this year repeated with increasing power and success. 



702 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

The work was general throughout the District, but 
particular sections were largely blessed with the vis- 
itations of the Spirit. In Abingdon circuit there was 
hardly a neighborhood which did not prove the gos- 
pel to be " the power of God unto salvation." At a 
love-feast held, in the town of Abingdon, there were 
scenes over which the angels rejoiced. l!^ot less than 
two hundred persons attended this, to many of them, 
singular meeting, one half of whom were strangers 
to religion. During the exercises ** the simple and 
eloquent manner with which many testified the great 
things that God had done for them seemed entirely 
irresistible. The flame of love was soon kindled into 
rapturous joy in the hearts of the saints, while floods 
of tears involuntarily burst from the eyes of those 
who had been brought thither by idle curiosity, or 
had been induced to come with a desire to know 
the nature of our economy and to profit by our meet- 
ing." The revival received a fresh impulse from this 
real love-feast. More than six hundred souls were 
added to the church during the year. In Lee, New 
River, and other circuits lying partly in Tennessee 
and Virginia, the work was general and powerful. 
*' The wilderness and the solitary places were made 
glad, and the desert rejoiced and blossomed as the 
rose." The summing up for the year showed a gain 
on the District of seventeen hundred members. 

The Virginia Conference was called this year to 
mourn the loss of one of the most beloved and useful 
ministers of the Church. Rev. Peyton Anderson 
closed his useful life after a brief illness, in the county 
of Culpeper. He was born in Chesterfield county, of 



IN VIRGINIA. 70S 

parents who trained him to know the Lord from his 
childhood. In his nineteenth year he entered the 
travelling ministry, and soon gave indications of that 
ability and zeal which so brightly illustrated his brief 
career of usefulness. He seemed at all times to bo 
deeply impressed with the great responsibilities of the 
ministerial office ; and in the pulpit and in the social 
circle the seriousness of his manner bespoke the sin- 
cerity of his heart. With a clear, discriminating mind, 
deep solemnity, ready command of appropriate lan- 
guage, and great fervor of spirit, it is not surprising 
that he soon became a most effective and successful 
preacher of the gospel. Though young in Christian 
experience, he had passed through severe struggles, 
and learned patience by the things he had endured, 
he w^as therefore eminently qualified to administer 
consolation to feeble and doubtu:ig disciples. He was 
full of benevolence, and ardently desired that all men 
might share in the blessings of redemption. The 
cause of missions found in him a warm friend and 
an able advocate. He earnestly recommended this 
noble enterprise to the people of his charge, and by 
his personal influence and the force of example, stirred 
them lip to greater liberality. In the last illness of 
this good man the graces of religion shone with a 
peculiar lustre. While groups of sorrowing friends 
stood round his bed watching the last conflict, he 
turned his eyes upon them, and exclaimed in the full 
hope of the gospel he had preached from his boy- 
hood : ** Farewell, brethren. When we meet again 
it will be in heaven." 



t04 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 



CHAPTER XVL 

Conference of 1824 — Revivals — General Conference of 1824 — Lay 
Delegation and other measures — ^Virginia Conference of 1825 — 
Incipient movements for a College — Colonization and Missiona- 
ry Societies — Great work of Grace in Hanover Circuit, Greens- 
ville, and other places — Christopher S. Mooring — Conference of 
1826 — ^Kevival on James River District — Death of Philip Bruce 
—Conference of 1827— Progress of the work in Norfolk, Suffolk 
and other places — Death of Thomas Howard — Conference of 
1828 — Martin P. Parks — AbramPena — "Radical Controversy" — 
Death of Bishop George — Conference of 1829 — Conference Mis- 
sionary Society. 

The Conference of 1824 assembled at Petersburg 
on the 18th of March. Bishop George presided ; 
twelve preachers were received on trial ; four were 
dropped ; six w^ere readmitted ; four were elected to 
Deacon's and eight to Elder's orders ; seven local 
preachers were admitted to the Deaconate, and eight 
to the Eldership ; seven located. The report of the 
Conference Stewards showed the following amounts 
received from the sources indicated : Collected from 
the Circuits and Stations, |238 ; Cent Collection, 
$129 ; from the Book Concern, $300 ; from the 
Chartered Fund, $110 ; public collection at Confer- 
ence, |T0. 

The dividend made to the claimants was 68 per 
cent. 

The following resolution, offered by Lewis Skid- 
more, was adopted : 



IN VIRGINIA. 705 

" Mesolved, That we highly disapprove of any young 
man on trial among us taking any step towards mar- 
riage, before he shall have obtained respectable stand- 
ing in the ministry, at least the office of a Deacon ; 
and this Conference would be pleased if young men 
would defer all matters of courtship until a year or 
two after they shall have been ordained Deacons. 
And this Conference will drop any young man who 
shall violate the above resolution." 

The following were elected delegates to the General 
Conference : Ethelbert Drake, Lewis Skidmore, 
Benjamin Devany, Caleb Leach, Henry Holmes, 
WilHam Compton, Hezekiah G. Leigh, and John C. 
Ballew. 

David Payne, of Eichmond, a free man of color, 
was at this Conference graduated to the office of a 
Deacon. This, we believe, is the first instance on 
record of the election of a colored person to orders 
by the Virginia Conference. Payne was a pious, 
intelligent and useful man ; some years subsequent to 
his ordination, he went to Liberia as a missionary, 
and after a brief period of useful labor in that new 
field, he fell at his post and entered into rest. 

The year following this Conference was a memo- 
rable one on many of the Virginia circuits. In Col- 
umbia circuit, lying partially in the counties of 
Goochland, Louisa, Albemarle and Fluvanna, there 
was an extraordinary visitation of the Holy Spirit. 
The minister, James Avis, was a man full of faith 
and holy zeal. His preaching was attended with im- 
mediate and powerful results. The churches were 
quickened into new life under his powerful appeals, 



706 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and sinners were smitten by hundreds wherever he 
preached. Between three and four hundred were 
added to the Church during the year. Avis labored 
as if he felt that he was finishing his work in the 
vineyard ; and it proved the last but most glorious 
year of his ministry. Seized with a fever in the 
midst of the revival, the young herald of the Cross 
ceased at once to work and live. He had been only 
five years in the work, but in that short time the souls 
he had won to Christ were counted by hundreds. 
James Avis was a burning and a shining light. 

In the Valley of Virginia there were gracious re- 
vivals. Rockingham circuit was specially favored 
with showers of grace ; and at the close of the year 
an addition of one hundred souls had been made to 
the Church. 

The General Conference met on the 1st of May of 
this year in the city of Baltimore. 

In response to a request made by the preceding 
General Conference to the British Conference for the 
establishment of personal intercourse between the two 
great branches of Methodism, Rev, Richard Reece and 
^ev. John Hannah were present as representatives ot 
the English Methodists. Their presence was pecu- 
liarly gratifying, as there had been no personal inter- 
course between the two bodies since the last visit ot 
Dr. Coke in 1804. 

Among the questions that engaged the attention of 
the Conference the subject of lay delegation occupied 
a prominent place. A number of memorials and pe- 
titions were sent up by local preachers and lay mem- 
bers, praying that they might be granted the right of 



IN VIRGINIA. V07 

a voice in the legislative department of the Cliurch ; 
these were referred to a committee who reported ad- 
versely to the petitioners. They declared the pro- 
posed change to be inexpedient. 

" 1, Because it would create a distinction of inter- 
ests between the itinerancy and the membership of the 
Church. 

** 2. Because it pre-supposes that either the author- 
ity of the General Conference * to make rules and reg- 
ulations' for the Church, or the manner in which this 
authority has been exercised is displeasing to the 
Church, the reverse of which we believe to be true. 

** 3, Because it would involve a tedious procedure, 
inconvenient in itself, and calculated to agitate the 
Church to her injury. 

**4. Because it would give to those districts which 
are conveniently situated, and could therefore secure 
the attendance of their delegates, an undue influence 
in the government of the Church." ; 

The report on Education showed that some pro- 
gress had been made in this department. Under the 
advice of the preceding Conference, that each Annual 
Conference should establish a seminary of learning 
within its bounds, three or four flourishing schools of 
a high grade had been founded. The Annual Con- 
ferences were urged to use their utmost exertions to 
establish seminaries of learning. 

The Missionary Eeport was greatly encouraging 
when we consider the small means then at the com- 
mand of the Church ; the missions among the In- 
dians had been generally successful, and the Confer- 



708 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

eriee resolved **to prosecute them with increased 
vigor." 

The American Colonization Society laid its claims 
before the Conference, and it was resolved **that, 
whenever the funds of the Missionary Society will 
Justify the measure, the Bishops shall select and send 
missionaries to the colony of Liberia." 

The action of the General Conference of 1820, on 
the Presiding Elder question, was again suspended. 

Two new Bishops were elected, Joshua Soule and 
Elijah Hedding. 

The Conference seemed to feel very deeply the need 
of more faithful pastoral work on the part of the 
preachers, and directed that "the superintending 
preachers so lay out their work that there may be 
sufficient time allowed each preacher for the faithful 
and extensive discharge of all his pastoral duties, in 
promoting family religion and instructing the chil- 
dren." 

The Virginia Conference for 1825 met at Oxford, 
Forth Carolina, on the 24th of Febraary. Bishop 
Soule presided ; eight preachers were received on 
trial ; two were readmitted ; four were dropped ; 
four were admitted to Deacon's, and four to Elder's 
orders ; one was expelled ; six local preachers were 
ordained Deacons, and one was ordained Elder ; $80 
were received from the Chartered Fund ; $150 from 
the Book Concern. There is no mention of any 
amount from the circuits. 

The Conference carefully guarded the door of en- 
trance to the orders of the ministry. Several local 
preachers were refused ordination at this session ; one 



i 



IN VIRGINIA. T09 

** for disaffection to our government ;" ** another for 
want of ability and good report among his neigh- 
bors ;" and a third '* for want of ability." 

This shows the necessity for careful scrutiny of all 
applicants in the Quarterly Conference, which is the 
proper body to determine whether a licentiate should 
be raised to the orders of the Christian ministry by 
the Annual Conferences. 

In the Minutes of this session we find the following : 
** After some discussion on the recommendation of 
the General Conference, * That each Annual Con- 
ference establish a seminary of learning under its own 
regulations and patronage,' a motion was made to 
refer the subject to a committee of twelve, to consist 
of six members of the Conference, the balance, local 
preachers or laymen of our Church, to consider and 
report the best method of establishing such a semina- 
ry with suitable constitutional principles ; which mo- 
tion prevailed, and the following persons were elected 
to compose the committee : John Early, Hezekiah G. 
Leigh, Caleb Leach, Charles A. Cooley, William 
Compton and George M. Anderson, of the Confer- 
ence ; Gabriel P. Disosway Joseph 13. Littlejohn, 
John i^utall, Lewis Taylor, Joseph Taylor and Jesse 
H. Cobb, of the laity." 

This committee, it appears, reported on the subject, 
but the report has not been found. The entry in the 
Journal is only this : " The College bill, which waa 
laid on the table, was taken up, and, after some 
amendments, it was adopted." 

Randolph Macon College was the result of this 
novement. 



710 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

The earliest action of the Conference on the subject 
of Colonization of the Blacks was taken at this Ses- 
sion. " A communication was received from the Eev. 
William McKenny, Agent for the American Colon- 
ization Society, soliciting the patronage of the Con- 
ference towards that institution, when, on motion, it 
was resolved that the Virginia Conference highly ap- 
prove the objects of the American Colonization So- 
ciety, and recommend it to^ the patronage of the peo- 
ple of their charge." 

The following appears as the first recorded action 
of the Conference in reference to Missions and Mis- 
sionary Societies: *'The Conference Missionary 
Agent is required to superintend in person, or by 
proxy, the formaton of branch societies in the bounds 
of the Conference, to communicate with and stimu- 
late the societies already formed. To make collections 
for missionary purposes whenever it is. practicable ; 
to employ suitable missionaries whenever it is in his 
power to employ them on proper missionary ground, 
and to report to the next Conference his success, and 
the condition of the missionary cause in its bounds." 

The partial records that have been preserved give 
most interesting accounts of the gracious revival which 
prevailed during this year on many of the circuits. 
The work in Rockingham was greater than that of 
the past year. Good meetings were held in the early 
part of the Spring, and there were a few conversions. 
On the 1st of August a camp-meeting began at Tay- 
lors' Springs, where they had been held successively 
for ten years ; this was the last to be held on that 
consecrated ground. The meeting was greatly sue- 



IN VIRGINIA. YIJ 

cessful ; forty-six persons were converted and tlie 
jnembers were greatly revived. The flame of revival 
gradually spread to almost eveiy part of the circuit. 
In the Fall the gracious work was very powerful. At 
the ordinary prayer meetings the happiest scenes were 
witnessed ; saints rejoiced in God, while penitents 
laid hold on Christ and exulted in the new life of 
faith. At Spring Creek Church one hundred united 
in church fellowship, among whom were many ot 
great influence in the community. ITot a few rejoiced 
during tiiis revival in the possession of '* perfect 
love." 

A most extraordinary work broke out this year on 
the Hanover circuit, under the ministry of Rev. 
Robert Wilkerson and Rev. William S. Peyton. 
The work began early in the Spring, and gradually 
spread all over the circuit. The people were so gen- 
erally and so powerfully impressed that at the regular 
ap]?rointments, on week days, as well as on the Sab- 
bath, there were many awakenings and conversions. 
At King's Chapel, in May, there was a powerful re- 
vival. At Rowzie's Chapel, in June, the manifesta- 
tions of Divine power were most glorious. ** It is 
believed," says an eye-witness, **that one hundred 
sinners were cut to the heart, and about twenty found 
peace." The work prospered in the neighborhood, 
and at every meeting sinners were converted. To us 
the conviction of a hundred sinners and the conver- 
sion of twenty, may seem disproportionate, but we 
must bear in mind that there was no such protracted 
effort as we are accustomed to in the present day ; 



712 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

^hm the meeting was seldom protracted beyond two 
days and often but one day could be spent in a neigh-- 
borhood ; it was, therefore, a great work to behold iu 
one day a hundred sinners convicted, and to hear the 
shouts of a score of happy converts. 

At a Camp Meeting at King's Chapel, in August, 
after the first sermon, the work broke oat with power. 
Yast numbers attended, and on Sunday it was sup- 
posed that there were iive thousand people on the 
ground. ** Every sermon and exhortation seemed to 
be clothed with Divine energy. Sinners were seen 
weeping, aud heard crying and praying in almost 
every direction ; and after the second day the convert- 
ing power of God was so gloriously displayed that we 
had not time to rejoice with one soul before our ears 
would be saluted with the shouts of another having 
found the same blessing. On Tuesday evening it was 
thought that about twenty souls were happily con- 
verted in fifteen minutes. Such a time we had never 
before seen. 

'* Hundreds of believers were shouting at the same 
moment ; mourners crying ; young converts rejoicing, 
and the most awful sense of God's presence seemed 
to pervade the whole congregation. Some were so 
alarmed as to leave the encampment, and those who 
were unwilling for their families to be converted, ex- 
erted themselves to get them off the camp ground." 

The meeting closed on the 6th day, and the num* 
ber of converts was one hundred aud twenty. ** Many 
who came to this meeting with strong prejudices 
against Camp Meetings were cured of them entirely ; 
persecutors have become friends — and hundreds will 



IN VIRGINIA* 713 

praise God in eternity that they ever visited this con- 
secrated ground." The number of converts on the 
circuit during the year was above three hundred. 

Gracious and fruitful revivals prevailed during the 
year in many other places. Princess Ann, Gloucester, 
Amherst, Lynchburg, Petersburg and Richmond, 
were specially blessed with abundant showers of 
grace. On Greensville circuit, under the labors of 
Rev. John Panabaker, a devout and most useful man, 
more than three hundred souls were converted. 

The Conference lost this year two faithful laborers. 
Samuel Hunter was born in the State of Maryland. 
He was converted in 1809, and in 1811 received on 
trial in the Virginia Conference. He labored on 
various circuits until 1818, when failing health obliged 
him to locate. The next year he was readmitted, and 
travelled until 1823, when he became superannuated, 
and so remained to the close of his life. He died 
full of hope on the 23d of November, 1825. He 
was a plain, sound and doctrinal preacher. His name 
is held in grateful remembrance by many whom he 
led to Christ. 

Christopher S. Mooring this year closed a long and 
useful career, and entered on the reward of the just. 
He was born in Surry county, Yirginia, in 1767. In 
1789 he was admitted into the travelling ministry. 
<* During thirty-six years," say his brethren in their 
notice of him, **of public labor he abode in God, 
and was made an instrument of great good to the 
souls of men. In his last sickness, patience and sub- 
mission to God were conspicuous. Although at times 
powerfully assailed by temptations, his confidence in 



714 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

God remained unshaken, and his peace flowed as a 
river. As he approached his end he exclaimed to a 
friend : ^ I am getting near to my long home. for 
submission, submission, resignation, resignation ! I 
have felt restless, but that restlessness is now measu- 
rably gone.' On the 30th of September he fell asleep 
in Jesus. He was distinguished for his meekness and 
quietness of spirit, and for his gravity and fidelity in 
his Master's cause. Hundreds, by his instrumental- 
ity, were brought to God, who will be his crown of 
rejoicing in the last day." 

The Conference of 1826 began at Portsmouth on 
the 15th of February. Bishops McKendree and 
Soule were present. Eleven were received on trial; 
three were readmitted ; five were dropped ; ten were 
elected to Deacon's, and Rve to Elder's orders ; three 
were returned superannuated ; two as supernumera- 
ries ; nine located ; one was expelled ; three local 
preachers were admitted to Deacon's orders ; $90 
were received from the Chartered Fund, and $150 
from the Book Conceru. 

The following were added to the * ' College Com- 
mittee:" George W.Charlton and James Smith, of the 
Conference, and Robert Armistead, Arthur Cooper 
and Jesse Mcholson, local preachers ; and Peter Her- 
bert and Cary Jennings, laymen. 

Out of eleven local preachers who applied for ordi- 
nation eight were rejected for want of ability and 
other causes. Several were found to be disaffected 
towards the government of the Church, showing that 
the spirit of Radicalism, as it was called, was at work. 

"The committee appointed to consider the -best 



IN VIRGINIA. 715 

means, and report tlie most suitable constitutional 
principles for establishing a seminary of learning 
within the bounds of this Conference, made their re- 
port, which was laid upon the table ;" afterwards 
**the College bill was taken up, and after some 
amendments, was adopted ; and H. G. Leigh, George 
W. Charlton, James Smith, John Early, and Thomas 
Crowder, E. Drake, G. P. Disosway, Eobt. A. Arm- 
istead, "William Clarke, and John C. Pegram, were 
appointed the select committee recommended in the 
report of the College committee." The report of the 
College committee we have not been able to find. 

We have the following action in reference to the 
publication of a Church paper : 

*^ Resolved, That this Conference recommend to the 
agents of our Book Concern at New York to adopt 
measures for the publication of a weekly paper from 
our own press, as soon as they can conveniently make 
arrangements therefor ; and that this Conference will 
use its influence to promote the circulation of the said 
paper." 

This, with the action of other Conferences, gave 
rise to the Christian Advocate and Journal, for many 
years the leading paper of the Church. 

We have been able to glean from the various 
records of the Church, only imperfect accounts of the 
success which attended Methodism in the State during 
the present year. It is to be deeply regretted that so 
few memorials of the trials and triumphs of our 
fathers have been preserved. 

There was a great revival in the city of Kichmond. 



716 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

A participant in the blessed scenes writes ; *'I can 
truly say we have had a most glorious revival among 
us — such as has never before been witnessed by the 
oldest inhabitant here. Many have been converted 
to God, many more are truly awakened, and are 
inquiring what thoy shall do to be saved. Old pro- 
fessors are greatly quickened, and there is a manifest 
struggling for perfect love or sanctification of soul. 
The signs of this good work began to appear about 
the first of September, since which time (it is now 
January,) upwards of 130 white persons have been 
converted ; 105 have been added to the Church." 

On the James Elver district, under the labors of 
Rev. Lewis Skidmore, Presiding Elder, and his corps 
of preachers, the work w^as general and powerful. 
Near the close of the year Mr. Skidmore wrote : 
*' The Lord of Hosts has been with us, and the Master 
of Assemblies in our midst. His strong arm has 
been made bare, and the fortifications of wickedness 
have been awfully shaken. Our congregations have 
been large and attentive, and our ministers have 
acquitted themselves like workmen that need not be 
ashamed. The variety of talent, so happily adapted 
to the variety of hearers and congregations, has been 
followed in a good degree by the expected happy 
results. Some with the deep and acute reasoning of 
a learned Paul, have reduced to silence the clamorous 
reasoners of this world ; some with a courageous 
Peter have gone with dauntless step to Sinai's smoking 
brow, and with intrepid arm have seized and hurled 
with might and skill the reddened bolt among the 



IN VIRGINIA. 717 

gazing crowd ; and others^ ApoUos like, with strains 
sweet and soft as the notes of David's harp, have 
softened down the multitude to tears. Thus have we 
seen the men of God preaching the everlasting gospel, 
with a blazing torch just lighted from the divine altar, 
until scores of stubborn foes have been brought to 
bow at the foot of the bleeding Cross. Here have 
we met with them, mingled the sympathizing tear, 
ioined the fervent prayer, and sung the mourner's 
song until the tree of life has been shaken and drop- 
ped the soul-restoring fruit among them ; and hun- 
dreds have eaten thereof and rejoiced in ecstasies to 
them unknown before. Hundreds of us are shouting, 
* Glory to God on high, peace on earth, and good 
will to all men !' " 

Kev. William A. Smith says of a revival on Am- 
herst circuit : ** Two hundred and ninety-three have 
been received as probationers during this revival. 
This work has not been confined to any particular 
sex or condition. Parents and children, masters and 
servants, have alike participated." 

In the town of Fredericksburg a gi'acious season 
blessed the Church, sinners returned to Christ, and 
his people rejoiced greatly in the success of ihe word. 

Nor was the gospel less pow^erful in subduing the 
rough natures of the hardy mountaineers. In Bath 
and the adjacent counties Methodism gained many 
fresh victories. Eev. J. B. Crist was sent by his Pre- 
siding Elder to form a new circuit in Bath county, 
when Methodism scarcely existed except in name. 
**I commenced the work,'- he says, '^with fear, but 
not without hope, by travelling through the country 



718 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

making my appointments as I went, preaching, at 
iirst, sometimes to only seven or eight persons in 
places where Methodist preachers had never been be- 
fore." In a short time several societies were formed, 
and at the close of the year this new field was secured 
as a two weeks' circuit. In the adjoining counties 
the work prospered greatly. Within the limits of 
Bottetourt and Greenbrier circuits five hundred mem- 
bers were added to the Church. The camp-meetings 
were scenes of great interest, not without abun- 
dant fruit, and the increase on the District was not 
less than a thousand souls. 

The oldest and one of the most useful and eminent 
members of the Virginia Conference entered this year 
upon the heavenly rest. Philip Bruce died on the 
10th of May at the residence of his brother, Joel 
Bruce, in Giles county, Tennessee. 

iNTot long before his death a communication was 
received from him by the Virginia Conference in re- 
ply to an official request from that body that he would 
visit them again, and permit his sons in the gospel to 
look once more on his venerable form. " Many affec- 
tions," said this aged servant of Christ, *'bind me to 
the Virginia Conference. Your expressions of good- 
will have awakened the tenderest friendships of my 
soul ; but it is very probable that I shall never see you 
again, for though in my zeal I sometimes try to preach, 
my preaching is like old Priam's dart, thrown by an 
arm enfeebled by age. Indeed, my work is well nigh 
done, and I am waiting in glorious expectation for my 
change to come, for I have not labored and suffered 
in vain, nor followed a cunningly devised fable." 



IN VIRGINIA. 719 

*^He died," says one of Ms attendants, *' not only in 
peace, but in triumpli. He was perfectly resigned, 
and said he never had such clear views in his life. 
For a whole night he could not sleep for joy, and the 
Lord w^as with him and blessed him mightily." *^ I 
wrote his will," says Dr. Taylor, "and after travel- 
ling about fifty-two years his property amounted in 
value to $300. He was amoug the very few minis- 
ters with whom I have been acquainted whose every 
word and action evinced a sanctified heart. In him 
the Wesleyan plan of itinerancy was exemplified. 
He was the courteous, affable gentleman, and the ex- 
emplary, dignified Christian minister, — in language 
plain, and plain in manners." At tbe time of his 
death he was the oldest travelling preacher in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, except Rev. Freeborn 
Garrettson. 

In commemoration of his long and faithful ser- 
vices, and as a testimonial of their love and venera- 
tion, the Virginia Conference erected a suitable mon- 
ument over his grave. 

The Conference for 1827 was held at Petersburg, 
and began on the 15th of February. Bishops Mc- 
Kendree, Roberts and Soule were present. Eleven 
were received on trial ; one was dropped ; three were 
re-admitted ; five located ; two were superannuated ; 
one was placed on the supernumerary list ; seven were 
elected Deacons and five Elders ; nine local preachers 
were ordained Deacons ; and two ordained Elders. 
The amount of funds reported as received was, from 
the Book Concern $200 ; from the Chartered Fund 
|90. There is no mention of circuit collections, though 



120 MEMORIALS Of METHODISM 

they were doubtless made and reported to the Con- 
ference. 

We find the following action in reference to the 
College : " The committee appointed last Conference 
to prepare a constitution for the government of the 
contemplated college, in accordance with certain con- 
stitutional principles set forth in a report of the com- 
mittee at the last Conference, reported a constitution, 
which, after some amendments, was adopted ;" and 
it was further ** resolved that every member of this 
Conference take a subscription paper and use his in- 
fluence and best exertions to obtain subscriptions for 
the benefit of the college contemplated to be founded 
within the bounds of this Conference." 

Bishop McKendree addressed the Conference, ** ex- 
pressing his gratitude for the restoration of his health, 
in answer to many prayers, and for the increase of the 
numbers and labors of the preachers, and their suc- 
cess in the bounds of our Conference the past year ; 
and concluded with an exhortation to holiness and to 
diligence in our labors as missionaries among the poor, 
our colored population, in catechising the rising gen- 
eration, and in promoting missionary purposes gen- 
erally, Sunday Schools, &c. 

** Upon the conclusion of the Bishop's address, the 
following resolutions were adopted unanimously : 

" 1. Resolved, That Friday, the 2nd of March next, 
be observed as a day of fasting and thanksgiving to 
Almighty God for His mercy in sparing and preserv- 
ing the life and health of our Superintendent, Bishop 
McKendree. 

" 2. Resolved, That the doctrine of holiness recom- 



IN VIRGINIA. T^l 

mended by our Discipline, and forcibly impressed in 
the address of Bishop McKendree, be duly weighed 
and enforced by the members of this Conference. 

** 3. Resolved, That this Conference engage more 
heartily in the missionary cause, and observe more 
particularly and fully the business of Sunday Schools 
and Tract Societies." 

We find the following in the Minutes: ** Bishop 
Soule asked for and obtained leave of absence for the 
balance of the session" ; so it seems the Bishop thought 
he could not leave but by the consent of the Confer- 
ence. 

** The Conference ordered that every preacher take 
up a collection on the Fourth of July in aid of the 
Colonization Society"; also, ** that we discountenance 
by precept and example the pernicious and too common 
practice of buying or dealing in lottery tickets." 

The preachers went from the Conference to their 
fields of ministerial toil in the spirit of their mission. 
The blessed fruit of their prayers and preaching soon 
appeared. In the lower portion of the State the work 
of salvation began and progressed with power. Early 
in the year Rev. Joseph Carson wrote from Korfolk : 
<*I arrived in this station on the 8th of March, and 
commenced my labors, I trust, with an eye single to 
the glory of God — determining to know nothing and 
preach nothing but Christ crucified. In a short time 
it became manifest that my feeble labors were not to 
be in vain. Many were awakened to a sense of their 
condition, and began to inquire what they must do to 
be saved. With many their conviction for sin was so 



722 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

powerful that their own houses became houses oi 
prayer for the distressed, and several were converted 
in their own dwellings." The result of this meeting 
was one hundred and forty-two conversions ; ninety- 
two whites and forty-two colored members were added 
to the church. 

The venerable Allen Bernard has favored us vAth 
his reminiscences of the work on the I^^orfolk District. 

He writes: ** 1827 was a memorable year in all 
this region ; a revival broke out in Suffolk in the 
month of May which extended its happy influences 
far and wide. Kev. B. Devauy had been succeeded 
in the Presiding Elder's office by Kev. Henry Holmes. 
In the early part of May we appointed a meeting to 
be held for two days in the town of Suffolk, with the 
hope of excellent ministerial help. We met on Sat- 
urday at the church, and many felt depressed at the 
failure of a leading minister to attend the meeting. 
"We all felt that we must look directly to God for help. 
At the close of the morning services the proposition 
was made that special prayer should be made three 
times that afternoon for help from on high — they 
were times of prayer. We met again at night, but 
nothing occurred of unusual interest ; the next morn- 
ing we met at nine o'clock for a sacramental meeting ; 
at the close of the services penitents were invited, and 
one came forward and was powerfully converted. Her 
joy and zeal in the cause made a deep impression on 
others, and during the day we had an increase of peni- 
tents. Though the number of converts was small, 
we felt that much had been gained in the powerful 



IN VIRGINIA. */23 

religious impressions that had been made on tlie com- 
munity. Here commenced a gracious revival in Suf- 
folk. A few weeks later we held a camp-meeting at 
JoUiff 's meeting house, in Norfolk count}^ ; here the 
power of God was displayed in the awakening and 
conversion of sinners, among whom were several 
from Suffolk. Several weeks later we held another 
camp-meeting at Eenns' camp-ground, in Isle ol 
Wight county; here we realized the presence and 
power of God. We had several very good and zeal- 
ous laborers at this meeting, among whom may be 
named Kevs. Henry Holmes, B. Devany, James Mor- 
rison, William J. Waller, William McKenney, Dr. 
C. Finny and Gabriel P. Disosw^ay. This was a time 
of great power, and many found peace in believing, 
among whom were several residents of Suffolk, and 
others from that place were deeply impressed on the 
subject of religion. 

**The work now went on gloriously in Suffolk, 
Smithfield and the adj acent neighborhoods. When we 
were about to close a meeting in Suffolk one evening a 
brother JBaker came to us and said, he wished we 
would hold a camp-meeting in his neighborhood. I 
told him if he would make the necessary arrange- 
ments, we would do so. In a day or two he returned 
and said that a most excellent site for the meeting had 
been secured. On the first day of this meeting the 
work broke out with unusual power. The Spirit was 
with us to give effect to the word preached. Rev. 
Daniel Hall, a veteran of the cross, was present ; he 
had been the Presiding Elder on the District in 1803, 
and held the great camp-meeting near Suffolk, at 



724 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

Smith's Mill Dr. William J. Waller preached with 
great zeal and success ; indeed, preachers and people 
were in the spirit of the work ; the ground was felt to 
he holy, groups of persons would arrive, and ap- 
proaching the entrance to the ground would he jest- 
ing and trij9.ing, but on entering, seemed to he awed 
into reverence, and would soon he among the peni- 
tents. 

'*I w^as at a camp-meeting in 1816, on Tangier 
Island, where 500 souls were supposed to have been 
converted ; but this meetiiig at Williams' camp- 
ground exceeded any that I had ever attended in its 
gracious results. We have never been able to ascer- 
tain the exact number that professed religion at this 
meeting, but the fruits of it are seen among us to the 
present day. Some of the most influential people of 
Suffolk were converted there, and afterward joined 
our church." 

The revival influence extended from this great 
meeting into the adjoining circuits, and hundreds 
were brought to Christ. In Gates county and in Mur- 
freesboro', Edenton and Elizabeth City, Korth Caro- 
lina, in Surry, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and in 
Norfolk city and county, the work w^as very gracious 
and powerful. Other churches besides the Method- 
ist shared in this spiritual harvest, and all the branches 
of Christ's Kingdom were more fully established in 
the faith. 

In the E'orthern E"eck of Virginia there were many 
blessed scenes. In Westmoreland circuit one hun- 
dred and forty were added to the church, and the in- 



^KVIRGINI^ 725 

crease was probably as great in other fields in that sec- 
tion of the State. 

From the Eichmond district, Rev. Lewis Skidmore 
again sent forth a cheering letter to the churches. 
'*From our best calculations," he writes under date 
of December 28th, ** since the first of April, about 
2,500 immortal souls have escaped from the ways of 
destruction to the embraces and the heavenly protec- 
tion of divine mercy. Of that number we rejoice to 
say that about 1,900 have become members of our 
church, and heart and hand are journeying with us 
to the promised land." 

The success of Methodism in the mountainous por- 
tions of the State within the limits of the Baltimore 
Conference was also very encouraging. In Chris- 
tiansburg circuit there was a fine religious influence 
pervading the community, and the year closed with 
an increase of one hundred and forty members. In 
this beautiful section of the State, Methodism has re- 
tained its influence and power to the present day. 
The field, at first so unpromising, has been well cul- 
tivated by the preachers of the Baltimore Conference, 
and there the ripest and richest harvests have been 
gathered and garnered. 

While the preachers of the Virginia Conference re- 
joiced in the success of the word preached, they were 
saddened by the sudden and violent death of one of 
their best and most useful members. Rev. Thomas 
Howard was a native of Gloucester county. He was 
of a pious famil}^ and gave his heart to God in his 
youth. In 1819 he was admitted on trial and soon 
became a most useful minister. He rose rapidly in 



726 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

the confidence and aftection of his brethren, and gave 
promise of many years of useful toil to the church. 
But alas ! how dark and mysterious are the move-' 
ments of Providence. In the midst of his days, and 
in the full tide of success as a Christian laborer, tiiis 
good man was cut down by a sudden stroke. '' On 
his way from the Conference of 1827, he was over- 
taken by a tremendous storm, and, it is supposed, 
was thrown from his carriage, as he infoi'med the 
people who found him that he had been entangled in 
the reins of his horse. His face was much stained 
with blood, and such were the bruises he received 
that he survived but a short time. He died in great 
peace. He was a gifted preacher, impressive and 
searching in his appeals to the conscience, and emi- 
nently useful to the church. 

The Conference of 1828 met at Raleigh, Korth 
Carolina on the 27th of February. Bishop Soule 
presided. Twenty-three were received on trial ; three 
were re-admitted ; one was dropped ; six located ; 
two were placed on the supernumerary, and one on 
the superannuated list ; nine were elected to Deacon's, 
and eight to Elder's orders ; four had died ; fourteen 
local preachers were ordained Deacons, and two were 
ordained Elders ; $90 were received from the Char- 
tered Fund, and |200 from the Book Concern ; there 
is no record of circuit collections. 

The following resolution, offered by Rev. Lewis 
Skidmore, was adopted : 

** Whereas, there are certain resolutions in refer- 
ence to making Presiding Elders elective by the An- 
nual Conferences, now suspended as unfinished bu?'- 



IN VIRGINIA. 727 

ness by the General Conference ; and whereas, those 
resolutions are, m the opinion of this Conference^ 
unconstitutional and impolitic, 

*' Resolved, Therefore, by this Conference, that the 
delegates who shall be elected by this Conference to 
the next General Conference to be held in Pittsburg 
May 1, 1828, be and hereby are instructed to vote 
against the passage of said resolutions into a rule, 
and against the passage of any other resolutions hav- 
ing the same object with the suspended resolutions ; 
and they are farther instructed to use all prudent 
means to prevent any innovation in our Methodist 
Episcopal form of Church Government." 

The Conference adopted the following, presented 
by Eev. Daniel Hall : 

** Whereas, it appears from communications made 
from our African brethren in Liberia^ that they have 
resolved to be united under the name of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church in Africa, and to abide by the 
rules and discipline of the General Conference in 
America, and have earnestly requested that a mis- 
sionary may be sent out to Liberia ; therefore, 

Resolved, That this Conference approve and recom- 
mend the appointment of a missionary to the said 
colony in Africa a-s early as, in the judgment of the 
managers of the Missionary Society, and the Super- 
intendents, it may be practicable." 

The following action was had on the '* College 
Question" ; 

** On motion a committee of seven was appointed — 
First, to see that all the Presiding Elders, and through 
them, the preachers of the circuits and stations pay a 



728 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

due and diligent attention to every regulation and 
rnatter appertaining to the establishment of the col 
lege contemplated ; secondly, that they be authorized, 
if they can, judiciously to employ an efficient agent 
to make collections and obtain subscriptions for the 
same ; — thirdly, that they maturely consider the ad- 
vantages of every place proposed for its site and re- 
port officially thereon to the next Virginia Confer- 
ence, upon which the locating of the college shall be 
fixed." This committee consisted of H. G. Leigh, 
Daniel Hall, Lewis Skidmore, W. I. Waller, Moses 
Brock, John Early and William A. Smith. 

It wag ordered at this session, ^*that hereafter at 
each of our Conferences some member at some time 
of the Conference be appointed to give in the con- 
gregation, in the character of an address or sermon, 
as he may choose, a general account oi the state (^^ 
the work within the bounds of this Conference." 

How long this practice was continued we know not ; 
it is to be regretted that it was not perpetuated. An 
annual address, or sermon, reviewing the movements 
of the Church in all her departments during the 
year, w^ould be of great interest and great benefit 
both to the preachers and the membership. It is 
true that we have this to a considerable extent in the 
reports and returns of the various appointments, but 
in addition w^e might have all these presented in the 
forcible and animated style of a w^ll studied and 
carefully prepared discourse. The annals of the 
Church could not be preserved in a more attractive 
form. 



IN VIRGINIA. 729 

The following refers to an occurrence that has been 
long credited to Kev. John C. Ballew: 

** James W. Dimnahay was charged with horse- 
whipping a wagoner on the highway; he frankly 
confessed that, under highly aggravating circum- 
stances, he did so from the impulse of the moment ; 
that he was sensible of his error, and would make 
any acknowledgements required by his brethren ; 
whereupon it was resolved that the Conference highly 
disapprove the conduct of brother Dunnahay, but 
accept his acknowledgment and promises to be more 
cautious in future." 

The Conference, convinced of the importance of 
circulating the best Church literature among the 
people, recommended the publication by the Book 
Agent of the whole of Mr. Wesley's works. 

Among the young men received on trial at this 
Conference, there were several who reached great 
distinction as ministers of Christ. Those yet among 
the living are too well known to need a notice in 
this place ; those who have finished their course and 
entered into rest merit a more perfect exhibition of 
their lives and labors than can be given in a brief 
sketch. 

There were thousands of eager hearers who thirty 
years ago listened with delight to the young, zealous, 
and fascinating Martin P. Parks. 

He was born in I^orth Carolina, in 1804, of pious 
Methodist parents, his father being a local preacher, 
and his mother a devoted and zealous Christian wo- 
man. He selected a military life, and entered the 
"West Point military school in his eighteenth year. 



730 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

While in this institution he was converted under the 
preaching of the chaplain, Rev. Mr. Mcllvaine. He 
graduated in the regular course, and entered the 
army as second-lieutenant of artillery. 

The scene of his first efforts, both as a soldier and 
a preacher, was at Old Point. He remained here 
fourteen months, and during this time secured license, 
and preached with great acceptance and marked suc- 
cess to the soldiers and citizens. Feeling his call as 
a soldier of Christ to be imperious, he laid aside his 
carnal weapons, and took the panoply of. the gospel. 
He was recommended to the Virginia Conference, 
and at this session received on trial. With a burn- 
ing zeal, and a heart full of love for Christ and im- 
mortal souls, the young preacher went forth to his 
appointed work. 

His success was very great. Wherever he preached 
souls were won to Christ. The force and beauty of 
his language, the fervor of his appeals, and the rap- 
ture that kindled in his heart while he preached 
Christ and him crucified, were at times almost irre- 
sistible ; his hearers were borne along on the rapid, 
sparkling current of his eloquence, until the sermon 
closed amid the cries of stricken" sinners, the shouts 
of believers, and the hallelujahs of the enraptured 
preacher. It is said that in the brightest days of his 
ministry it was not uncommon for him to sink ex- 
hausted in the pulpit, or on the floor of the altar, 
overcome, less by the effort of preaching than by the 
power of divine love. 

He continued to preach with popularity and suc- 
cess until the opening of Randolph Macon College, 



IN VIRGINIA. 731 

when lie was called to the chair of mathematics in 
that institution. While in this position he deter- 
mined to leave the Church of his early choice, and 
seek another communion. He united with the Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church, and after the usual noviti- 
ate was again admitted to the orders of the ministry. 
He seized faithfully in his new Church relations ; and 
it is*said that the force and fire of his earlier preach- 
ing would sometimes break through prescribed forms, 
and thrill his audience with pure, unstudied strains 
of eloquence. 

Mr. Parks w^as a man of elegant manners, of ge- 
nial nature, and rich in those rare endowments that 
form ^n agreeable fireside companion. Having suf- 
fered much from ill health, his physicians advised a 
voyage to Europe. It was made in great feebleness, 
and brought no relief to the invalid. Conscious that 
his days were rapidly closing, he sailed for his native 
land, fondly hoping to reach the bosom of his family. 
His Master had ordered differently; he died on the 
passage, and all that was mortal of the Christian min- 
ister was committed to the keeping of the restless sea. 

Abram Penn is a conspicuous and honored name 
in the Virginia Conference. He was born in the 
county of Patrick, in the year 1803. When not quite 
twenty he was married to his first wife, a Miss Eeid, 
of Bedford county. A few months after their mar- 
riage, while he was absent at Philadelphia, attending 
medical lectures, his wife died. This terrible stroke 
was made the occasion of his awakening. He at once 
began to seek Christ, gave up the study of medicine, 
returned home, and, after a powerful struggle of ten 



732 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

months, found peace in believing, at a Carap Meeting 
in Henry county. Two years after his conversion he 
offered himself to the Virginia Conference, and was 
received on trial. He rose rapidly as a minister, and 
from his reception until broken down by disease, he 
exhibited constancy, zeal, and a uniformity and depth 
of piety seldom manifested. He was eminently suc- 
cessful as a preacher, and enjoyed a popularity almost 
unbounded. His talents were not of the highest order, 
yet he possessed a clear, vigorous and comprehensive 
mind, well stored with valuable information. With 
a graceful diction, rich imagination, and great zeal 
and earnestness of manner, he took a high position 
among the ministers of the church. He was a de- 
voted son of Methodism, an unflinching advocate of 
her doctrines and rights, of her polity and discipline. 
The leading feature of his character was a daunt- 
less, straightforward honesty that needed no disguise 
for itself, and was impatient of dissimulation and dis- 
guise in other men. There was in Dr. Penn a foun- 
tain of geniality that made his society peculiarly 
agreeable, and secured him the ardent attachment of 
many warm and admiring friends. He suffered much 
in the later years of life with a most distressing affec- 
tion of the heart. Many times it brought him to the 
very gates of death, but he would rally again and go 
on in the path of duty and toil. At length disease 
gained the mastery over his noble frame. His work 
was done, well done, and he laid down to die. His 
last hours were peaceful and full of hope. In reply 
to inquiries about his spiritual welfare, he said, '' that 
though his sufferings were almost too great to bo 



m vmaiNiA. 733 

borne, yet he hoped God in His mercy would enabk 
him to bear them, and that he believed His grace 
would sustain him in the hour of his greatest trial. 

According to his faith, so was it unto him. His 
sun went down in a cloudless sky, not a fear nor doub^ 
marred the calmness of the closing scene. Peacefully, 
joyfully, he resigned his soul into the hands of his 
great Creator. A life pious, devoted and useful, was 
crowned by a death calm, peaceful, triumphant. 

The churches in Virginia during this, and several 
successive years, were greatly disturbed by the " Radi- 
cal Controversy," as it was called, which sent its agi- 
tating influences far and wide through the domain ot 
American Methodism. Tbe points in dispute between 
the *' Reformers" and their opponents are now so 
generally known as almost to preclude the necessity 
of a formal statement ; but a brief historical review 
of this movement which, after years of heated and 
angny disputation, culminated in the establishment of 
the Methodist Protestant Church, may be naturally 
expected in a narrative of the progress of Methodism 
in Virginia. 

Long before the General Conference of 1824, two 
questions of ecclesiastical reform were freely dis- 
cussed in Methodist circles. One, the Presiding Elder 
question, was advocated and opposed mostly among 
the travelling preachers ; the other, the question of 
lay delegation in the General Conference, mainly 
claimed the attention of the local preachers and lay 
members. The first of these questions, after several 
years of strife, was prospectively settled by the sus- 
pending action of the General Conferences of 1820 



734 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

and 1824 ; and in that of the present year was defini^ 
tively settled, and has not since disturbed the peace of 
the church. 

In 1820 the most zealous of the advocates of lay 
representation established a paper at Trenton, IN'ew 
Jersey, called the ^^Wesleyan Repository." It was 
the organ of the new party, and its columns were 
usually filled with strictures upon the government of 
the church, and personal attacks upon her Bishops 
and chief ministers. With a view to concert of ac- 
tion in pushing forward their measures, a ''Union 
Society" was established in the city of Baltimore, 
with proper officers — and a committee of correspond- 
ence, urging all who agreed with them in opinion to 
form similar societies throughout the church. The 
controversy went on with increasing heat until a short 
time before the meeting of the General Conference of 
1824, when a sort of council of the leadiug disaffected 
spirits was called in Baltimore to consider and decide 
upon the nature of an address to that body. In the 
midst of conflicting views, it was agreed to waive the 
question of right, and to memorialize the General 
Conference to grant lay representation on the ground 
of expediency alone. It was hoped that this measure, 
if adopted, would allay the feverish excitement and 
prevent the calamities of a schicsm. A number of the 
malcontents, dissatisfied with the memorial because it 
yielded, or at least waived, the question of right, met 
in Baltimore during the session of the Conference, 
and claimed representation " as a natural and social 
right," declaring that its rejection would be a proof 
of spiritual despotism unworthy of the character of 



IN VIRGINIA. 735 

christian ministers. Taking this high ground, they 
at once published proposals for a new organ, bearing 
the captivating title of ''Mutual Rights." The form- 
ation of " Union Societies" within the church, and 
the publication of a paper whose columns teemed with 
bitter and inflammatory articles against her govern- 
ment and chief ministers, was simply the incorpora- 
tion of schism within her sacred pale. 

The fate of the memorial before the General Con- 
ference we have recorded. The right to lay repre- 
sentation was kindly but emphatically denied. 

It is not our purpose to trace this movement in its 
minute details. It went ''from bad to worse" until 
the authority of the church was invoked to protect her 
against the assailants of her economy and administra- 
tion. At the Baltimore Conference of 1827, one of 
the members of that body who had associated him- 
self with the "Reformers," was arraigned for com- 
mending and circulating the "Mutual Rights." He 
avowed such opinions before the Conference, tbat they 
requested the Bishop to give him no regular work for 
one year, regarding this as the mildest sentence they 
could pass on the erring brother. From this decision 
he appealed to the General Conference, and not con- 
tent with this, he assailed his Conference in the col- 
umns of the "Mutual Rights." All this helped to 
widen the breach and hasten the catastrophe. The 
advocates of reform put forth all their strength. Men 
who had been honored co-laborers with Asbury, 
Wliatcoat and McKendree, now vied with each other 
in their efforts to break up that form of church gov- 
ernment which these holy men had toiled and suffered 



736 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

to establish. In the midst of the controversy a de- 
fender of the old forms of Methodism entered the lists 
who dealt the ^'Eeformers" trenchant blows, and re- 
assured the faith of many who had faltered in the 
midst of the excitement. This writer was Dr. Thomas 
E. Bond, of Baltimore, long esteemed one of the 
ablest defenders of Methodism as it came from the 
fathers. In reply to a publication which appeared 
about the same time, reflecting most severely on the 
founders of American Methodism, Rev. John Emory 
put forth his " Defence of our Fathers," fully vindi- 
cating those venerable men from the unjust cliarges 
brought against them in the ** History and Mystery 
of Methodist Episcopacy." Mr. Emory's work was 
widely circulated and merited, as it secured, the admi- 
ration of all the true friends of the church. It so 
completely established the wisdcm and integrity of 
Asbury and his associates that nothing has since been 
needed on the questions therein discussed. 

Matters at length reached such a crisis that it was 
deemed necessary to the peace of the church to cite 
some of the most determined malcontents before the 
proper ecclesiastical tribunals. The first case occur- 
red in the city of Baltimore, where eleven local 
preachers, and twenty-five lay members were sum- 
moned to appear and answer the charge of ** inveig- 
ling against our Discipline, speaking evil of our min- 
isters," and of breaking the rule ** which prohibits 
the members of the church from doing harm, and 
requires them to avoid evil of every kind." The 
charges were sustained by ample evidence, and the 



IN VIRGINIA. 737 

local preachers were suspended and the laymen ex 
pelled. 

Similar proceedings were held in other places, and 
quite a number of refractory members were excluded 
from the church. 

The expelled preachers and members in Baltimore, 
with many others who withdrew from the church, 
formed an association under the name of " Associa- 
ted Methodist Eeformers." In ll^ovember, 1827, a 
Convention, composed of clerical and lay delegates 
from State Conventions and Union Societies met and 
prepared a memorial, setting forth their grievances 
and their demands, which was laid before the ensuing 
General Conference. It was referred to a committee, 
and an adverse report drawn up and presented to the 
Conference from the pen of Mr. Emory, whose famil- 
iarity with the whole controversy enabled him to meet 
all the arguments of the memorialists. With the 
hope, however, of preventing further strife and sepa- 
ration from the church, the Conference advised that 
no further proceedings should be had against disaf- 
fected ministers or members, and that all who had 
been expelled should be restored to the church on 
condition that the ''Union Societies" should be abol- 
ished and the publication of the ** Mutual Eights" 
discontinued. Yery few, if any, of the discontented 
parties, availed themselves of the benefits of this 
privilege ; on the conti^ary, after the action of the 
Conference became known, large numbers left the 
church in different portions of the country, and gath- 
ered under the banners of reform. 

In November of the present year (1828) the ** As- 



738 MEMORIALS OF METHODISM 

sociated Methodist Churches" held a Contention in 
Baltimore, and organized a provisional government, 
nntil a future Convention should prepare a constitu- 
tion for a proper church organization. The Conven- 
tion assembled in the same city in November 1830, 
and was composed of clerical and lay representatives 
from thirteen Annual Conferences. By this body the 
*' Methodist Prctestant Church" was fully organized 
as another new branch of Methodism. 

Although there was much disputation, and many sad 
divisions in the Virginia churches in reference to the 
measures of the '* Reformers," the field of ministerial 
toil was not altogether destitute of the refreshing 
showers of divine grace. In Petersburg, and many 
other places, gracious revivals prevailed, and the 
ranks of Methodism greatly strengthened. 

The Church was called this year [o mourn the loss 
of the pious and excellent Bishop George. On the 
11th of August he reached the town of Staunton, in 
a feeble and suffering condition, and put up witb his 
fnend, Mr. Philip Hopkins. Though evidently ill 
of dysentery, he manifested no desire to have the 
services of a physician. Rev. Bassil Barry gives an 
interesting account of the last sickness of this faith- 
ful servant of Christ. **I went once and again to 
see him, but fearing I migbt interrupt him, I asked 
him if it would be agreeable to him for me to remain 
in the room. He replied, ' If you are not invulnerable 
to the disease, you had better not remain.' On Thurs- 
day, while several of us were sitting by him, he said, 
* Brethren, you must excuse me ; I am too weak to 
talk witb you ; all I can say is, if I die, I am going 



IN VIRGINIA. 739 

to glory — for this I have heen living forty years/ 
On Friday morning he sent for me, and said he was 
low, and if he died he wished me to he the bearer oi 
a few lines to two persons in Baltimore — not naming 
them— but they were appointed to transact his busi- 
ness. He then requested me to get his Testament 
and read the 14th and 15th chapters of Saint John. 
I did so. He then offered a few reflections on them, 
and exclaimed, * What a body of divinity and valu- 
able truths are embraced in these chapters.' I was 
with him occasionally until the following Monday, 
during which time nothing special occured. He was 
much afflicted in body, but calm in mind. His pros- 
pects for heaven appeared to fill his soul with glory 
and peace. Observing that he manifested an unwill- 
ingness to take medicine, I said, * Father George, I 
do not wish you to die.' ' Why V said he, ' do you 
not wish me to go to heaven from Staunton V 

*'The disease continued with very little abatement. 
He complained but little, and frequently said, * We 
will try and get into the better country.' On Wed- 
nesday he was too weak to ride out ; and suffered 
much with great patience until Thursday evening 
about 6 o'clock, when he said, *I now feel a change 
has taken place.' His friends called in three other 
physicians, but all to no purpose. The die was cast, 
and no relief could be afforded, but his mind re- 
mained in perfect peace, — glory ! glory ! was his con- 
stant theme. 

*'To the physicians who came in he said, *I shall 
soon be in glory V To brother Morrison he said, 
* Who are these? are they not all ministering spirits?' 



740 MEMORIALS OP METHODISM 

and exclaimed, *My dear departed wife — has been 
^nth. me, and I shall soon be with her in glory V On 
Friday morning he embraced several of the brethren 
present, and said, * Brethren, rejoice with me ; I am 
going to glory.' During the day he frequently ex- 
pressed himself in similar language to brother Berke- 
ley, whose attention was unremitting. He said, * I 
am going to glory, that's enough.' Towards the 
close of the day he said, (clapping his hands) * Shout 
glory to God ! the best of all is, the Lord is with us.' 
At night he requested an anodyne, the candles to be 
removed, and to be left alone. Being asked if he 
had any temporal business unsettled, he replied, 
* Nothing of any magnitude ;' and added, as if he had 
bidden adieu to all earthly concerns, *I am going to 
gl.ry. I have been for many years trying to lead 
others to glory, and now thither am I going. Many 
other similar expressions fell from his hps, but suffice 
it to say, 'For me to live,' said he, 'is Christ, and 
to die is gain. Jesus is sweet.' Glory was his theme 
in the pulpit ; glory was his theme in death, and 
glory shall be his theme to all eternity." 

This was a happy and triumphant close of a life full of 
faith, and fervor, and ripe gospel fruits. In the Min- 
utes his brethren said of him : ''Bishop George was 
a man of deep piety, of great simplicity of manners, 
a very pathetic, powerful, and successful preacher, 
greatly beloved in life, and very extensively la- 
mented in death." 
***** ***** 

It was the original design of the author to bring 
this history to the close of the year 1830, but his 



IN VIRGINIA. 741 

labor upon it was suspended at this point at the out- 
break of the late war ; and, at the close of the strug- 
gle, when Richmond was evacuated, and the disastrous 
fire occurred, it consumed his library, with all the 
materials he had collected for the completion of the 
work. He was fortunate enough to preserve the 
manuscript, which had been removed from his office, . 
ill the burnt district, to his residence, in another 
part of the city. The two years lost contain but lit- 
tle of special interest, if we except the controversies 
that prevailed in reference to the schism, which re- 
sulted in the organization of the Methodist Protes- 
tant Church ; and now those controversies had better 
be forgotten than remembered. 



THE END. 



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